Compare towns
Milbridge vs Appleton vs Union vs Cherryfield
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
Cherryfield has the most renters (33.2% rent).
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 | Union | Cherryfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,222 |
1,360 |
2,663Highest |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±6.2 12% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Milbridge 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Union 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
| Union and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$31k 19% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$195,800±$53kLowest 34% below ME |
| Union and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $619±$186 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 26% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge and Cherryfield 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 40/MSAD 40 | Cherryfield Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.