Compare towns
Phillips vs Unity vs Union 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).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
Milbridge has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Union | Milbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,094Lowest |
1,858 |
2,663Highest |
1,222 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$60,536±$16k 19% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$240,400±$31k 19% below ME |
| Union and Milbridge 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$619±$186 46% below ME |
| Union and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,582 15% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,022Lowest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Milbridge and Unity 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% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 8% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.