Compare towns
Knox vs Milo vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Knox has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
Columbia has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Knox | Milo | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 825 |
2,165Highest |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
43.9±7Highest about the ME average |
41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
| Milo and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Columbia and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Columbia and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$9kHighest 13% below ME |
$56,875±$9k 24% below ME |
$56,667±$15kLowest 24% below ME |
| Knox and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,600±$26kHighest 46% below ME |
$97,100±$27kLowest 67% below ME |
$158,700±$19k 46% below ME |
| Knox and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$879±$400Lowest 23% below ME |
$894±$162 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610Highest 47% below ME |
$1,450 52% below ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Columbia and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 22% above ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Knox and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | — |
| High school in town | — | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.