Compare towns

Norridgewock vs Appleton vs Millinocket

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norridgewock has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).

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.

MeasureNorridgewockAppletonMillinocket
People
Population
3,288
1,360Lowest
4,115Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-8.7%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
50.3±11
12% above ME
49.2±7.4Lowest
10% above ME
54.2±6.2Highest
21% above ME
Millinocket and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.5%±5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
16.1%±5.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Millinocket and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25%±7.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
36.2%±8.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
Millinocket and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.7%
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
18.6%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
4%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Millinocket and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$61,579±$19kHighest
18% below ME
$53,618±$19k
28% below ME
$51,007±$9kLowest
32% below ME
Norridgewock and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$151,900±$52k
49% below ME
$235,600±$33kHighest
21% below ME
$103,800±$26kLowest
65% below ME
Appleton and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,063±$588
7% below ME
$1,104±$82Highest
3% below ME
$451±$130Lowest
60% below ME
Appleton and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,462Lowest
52% below ME
$3,588Highest
18% above ME
$1,580
48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.4%±46.5
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
20.5%±11Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
20.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
17.1%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.2%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
84.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
7 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1956Lowest
21 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
10% below ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
24 min
about the ME average
Work from home
22.3%±13.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5
ME: 15.9%
6.6%±4.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Norridgewock and Appleton 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 #91 of 133 in ME — #98 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 54/MSAD 54 Appleton Public Schools Millinocket Public Schools
High school in town None in town None 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.