Compare towns
Norridgewock vs Wayne vs Millinocket vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norridgewock has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).
Starks has the youngest population (median age 46.7).
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 | Norridgewock | Wayne | Millinocket | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,288 |
1,101 |
4,115Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-8.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±11 12% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
54.2±6.2 21% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
| Wayne and Millinocket 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% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Starks and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
36.2%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Millinocket and Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,579±$19k 18% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$51,007±$9kLowest 32% below ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Wayne and Starks 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$103,800±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$588Highest 7% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$451±$130Lowest 60% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,462 52% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,580 48% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
20.5%±11Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Norridgewock and Starks 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.1% ME: 10.7% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 10% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±13.6 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Norridgewock 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 | RSU 38 | 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 | 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.