Compare towns
Milo vs Franklin vs Calais vs Limestone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Calais has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Limestone has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Milo | Franklin | Calais | Limestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,165 |
1,628 |
3,097Highest |
1,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.9±7 about the ME average |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
43.8±5.1Lowest about the ME average |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
| Franklin and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Limestone and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8% ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.3% ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$9k 24% below ME |
$65,455±$16kHighest 12% below ME |
$64,096±$10k 14% below ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
| Franklin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $97,100±$27kLowest 67% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
$111,100±$36k 63% below ME |
$98,400±$18k 67% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $879±$400 23% below ME |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
$1,010±$199Highest 11% below ME |
$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
| Calais and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,450 52% below ME |
$2,231Highest 27% below ME |
$1,684 45% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
53.7%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Calais and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.4% ME: 10.7% |
15.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
21.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% ME: 74.3% |
76.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73.4% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 70% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
16 minLowest 35% below ME |
19 min 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.1 ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
2.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Limestone and Franklin 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 | — | — | #48 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | — | Calais Public Schools | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools |
| High school in town | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | — | Calais Middle/High School | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
— | 12.0 |
8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.