What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($100k median).

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Millinocket	Bethlehem
People
Population	3,779Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.5±7.3Highest 48% above U.S.	50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Millinocket and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bethlehem and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.4%±8.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Millinocket and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Millinocket and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,445±$11kLowest 38% below U.S.	$85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$99,800±$24kLowest 70% below U.S.	$288,300±$22kHighest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$451±$130Lowest 68% below U.S.	$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,538Lowest 51% below U.S.	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20.5%±11Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bethlehem and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 20% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	1.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#98 of 133 in ME	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	—	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.