What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($86k median).

Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	East Millinocket	Union
People
Population	1,495Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.9±8.7Highest about the ME average	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME
	East Millinocket and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±6.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Union and East Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	East Millinocket and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±3Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	East Millinocket and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$42,011±$7kLowest 44% below ME	$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$86,200±$7kLowest 71% below ME	$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$449±$150Lowest 61% below ME	$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,149Lowest 62% below ME	$3,276Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.1%±21.6Highest ME: 48.4%	24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	21.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 16 yrs older than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 28% below ME	29 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	10.8%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Union and East Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.