What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	Monroe
People
Population	4,115Highest	1,001Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.2±6.2Highest 21% above ME	43.5±7Lowest about the ME average
	Millinocket and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%
	Monroe and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	36.2%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4%	22.6%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	29.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Monroe and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,007±$9kLowest 32% below ME	$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$103,800±$26kLowest 65% below ME	$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$451±$130Lowest 60% below ME	$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,580Lowest 48% below ME	$2,207Highest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20.5%±11Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Monroe and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	11.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the ME average	32 minHighest 28% above ME
Work from home	6.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.8%±4.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Monroe 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	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	Stearns Jr-Sr High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.