Compare towns
Ludlow vs Mapleton vs Millinocket vs Smyrna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Millinocket has the oldest population (median age 54.2).
Smyrna has the most kids (33.2% 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 | Ludlow | Mapleton | Millinocket | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 444 |
1,884 |
4,115Highest |
380Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 46.1±5.8 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
54.2±6.2Highest 21% above ME |
31±9.6Lowest 31% below ME |
| Millinocket and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
33.2%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Smyrna and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
36.2%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
10.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.6% ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,500±$21k 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$51,007±$9kLowest 32% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Mapleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,900±$56k 55% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$103,800±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
$117,100±$10k 61% below ME |
| Mapleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $988±$111Highest 13% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$451±$130 60% below ME |
$425±$63Lowest 63% below ME |
| Ludlow and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,655 45% below ME |
$1,789Highest 41% below ME |
$1,580 48% below ME |
$1,200Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±94.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.5%±11 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 15% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
15 minLowest 37% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.8%±8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±6.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Ludlow 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 | — | — | #98 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Millinocket Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Stearns Jr-Sr High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.