Compare towns

Milo vs Thorndike vs Mars Hill

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milo has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
Mars Hill has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureMiloThorndikeMars Hill
People
Population
2,165Highest
1,403
1,398Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-13%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-8.9%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43.9±7Highest
about the ME average
19.3±23.6Lowest
57% below ME
43.4±3
3% below ME
Milo and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.8%±4.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
49.8%±28.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
22.9%±5.7
ME: 18.1%
Thorndike and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±2.6
ME: 22.4%
11.7%±6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
24.5%±5.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Mars Hill and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
25.2%
ME: 36.2%
26%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.8
ME: 5.8%
1.5%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.8%±3.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
Mars Hill and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,875±$9kLowest
24% below ME
$78,438±$14kHighest
5% above ME
$65,273±$9k
13% below ME
Thorndike and Mars Hill 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
$205,600±$88kHighest
31% below ME
$163,600±$23k
45% below ME
Thorndike and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$879±$400Highest
23% below ME
$836±$317
27% below ME
$488±$96Lowest
57% below ME
Milo and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,450Lowest
52% below ME
$2,537Highest
16% below ME
$1,843
39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±17.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
36%±62.5
ME: 48.4%
30.6%±7.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Milo and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.6%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
87.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
70.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
1967Lowest
10 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
42 minHighest
70% above ME
36 min
46% above ME
21 minLowest
14% below ME
Work from home
3.2%±2.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
44.7%±35.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.9%±6.6
ME: 15.9%
Thorndike and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district RSU 41/MSAD 41 RSU 03/MSAD 03 RSU 42/MSAD 42
High school in town Penquis Valley Middle/High School Mt View High School Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Highest
11.7
8.0Lowest
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.