Compare towns
Lincoln vs Millinocket vs Norway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the highest household income ($56k).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).
Norway has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Lincoln | Millinocket | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,890 |
4,115Lowest |
5,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% ME: +2.6% |
-8.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±3.4 17% above ME |
54.2±6.2Highest 21% above ME |
49.5±4.9Lowest 10% above ME |
| Millinocket and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Norway and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.1%±7.4 ME: 22.4% |
36.2%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Millinocket and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% ME: 36.2% |
18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Norway and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,089±$15kHighest 25% below ME |
$51,007±$9kLowest 32% below ME |
$54,342±$17k 27% below ME |
| Lincoln and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,500±$40k 52% below ME |
$103,800±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
$215,800±$29kHighest 27% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $658±$28 42% below ME |
$451±$130Lowest 60% below ME |
$770±$66Highest 32% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,860 39% below ME |
$1,580Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,057Highest 32% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±34.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.5%±11Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.7%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Lincoln and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.1% ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Norway and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #94 of 133 in ME | #98 of 133 in ME | #79 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67 | Millinocket Public Schools | RSU 17/MSAD 17 · Oxford-Region 11 |
| High school in town | Mattanawcook Academy | Stearns Jr-Sr High School | Oxford Hills Comprehensive H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.