Compare towns
Phillips vs Appleton vs Milbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phillips has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Milbridge has the shortest commute (18 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.
| Measure | Phillips | Appleton | Milbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,094Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,222 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
50.3±6.2Highest 12% above ME |
| Milbridge and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$60,536±$16kHighest 19% below ME |
| Milbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$240,400±$31kHighest 19% below ME |
| Milbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$619±$186 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,582 15% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,022Lowest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±33Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 8% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.