Compare towns

Millinocket vs Rome vs Smithfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).

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.

MeasureMillinocketRomeSmithfield
People
Population
4,115Highest
1,215
856Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.7%
ME: +2.6%
+13.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-10.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
54.2±6.2
21% above ME
48.3±9.2Lowest
8% above ME
55.8±3.5Highest
25% above ME
Smithfield and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.1%±5.9
ME: 18.1%
21.4%±6.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
10%±3.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Rome 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%
24.7%±9.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
29.7%±3.5
ME: 22.4%
Millinocket and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.6%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
39.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.7%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±4.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
3%±1.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Rome 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
$77,639±$25k
4% above ME
$107,917±$27kHighest
44% above ME
Smithfield and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$103,800±$26kLowest
65% below ME
$329,300±$36kHighest
11% above ME
$242,800±$15k
18% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$451±$130Lowest
60% below ME
$1,150±$56Highest
about the ME average
$1,109±$358
about the ME average
Rome and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,580Lowest
48% below ME
$1,829
40% below ME
$2,866Highest
6% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20.5%±11Lowest
ME: 48.4%
54.2%±59.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
42.9%±45.2
ME: 48.4%
Rome and Smithfield 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%
10.3%
ME: 10.7%
5.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
91.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
88.9%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
21 yrs older than ME
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the ME average
30 min
21% above ME
33 minHighest
32% above ME
Work from home
6.6%±4.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
7.4%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
22%±7.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
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.