Compare towns

Ludlow vs Millinocket vs Starks

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ludlow has the most people working from home (9.8%).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).
Starks has the most expensive homes ($149k median).

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.

MeasureLudlowMillinocketStarks
People
Population
444Lowest
4,115Highest
556
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-8.7%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-7.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
46.1±5.8Lowest
about the ME average
54.2±6.2Highest
21% above ME
46.7±9.4
4% above ME
Millinocket and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±5.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.1%±5.9Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.4%±4.4
ME: 18.1%
Ludlow and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12.4%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
36.2%±8.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
20.3%±2.2
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.2%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
18.6%
ME: 36.2%
21%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±3.1
ME: 5.8%
4%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
0.9%±2.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Millinocket and Ludlow 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
$51,007±$9kLowest
32% below ME
$63,500±$8kHighest
15% below ME
Starks 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
$103,800±$26kLowest
65% below ME
$148,500±$27kHighest
50% below ME
Starks and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$988±$111
13% below ME
$451±$130Lowest
60% below ME
$1,063±$301Highest
7% below ME
Starks and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,655Highest
45% below ME
$1,580
48% below ME
$1,348Lowest
56% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±94.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
20.5%±11Lowest
ME: 48.4%
45.5%±90.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line
15.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
17.1%
ME: 10.7%
19.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
84.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
90%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1956Lowest
21 yrs older than ME
1988
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
15% below ME
24 min
about the ME average
33 minHighest
33% above ME
Work from home
9.8%±8Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.6%±4.1
ME: 15.9%
3.3%±2.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Ludlow 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 — #98 of 133 in ME —
School district — Millinocket Public Schools —
High school 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

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.