Compare towns
Milbridge vs Appleton vs Clifton vs Steuben
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milbridge has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Clifton has the oldest population (median age 52.7).
Steuben has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Milbridge | Appleton | Clifton | Steuben |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,222 |
1,360 |
1,111Lowest |
1,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±6.2 12% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.7±7.1Highest 18% above ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
| Clifton and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.1% ME: 36.2% |
18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Clifton and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,536±$16k 19% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$70,313±$16k 6% below ME |
$76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
| Steuben and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$31kHighest 19% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$202,500±$67k 32% below ME |
$173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
| Milbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $619±$186Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME |
$678±$319 40% below ME |
| Clifton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,022 33% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,838Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,029 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
81.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.