Compare towns
Princeton vs Mars Hill vs Knox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($121k median).
Mars Hill has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
Knox has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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 | Princeton | Mars Hill | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 866 |
1,398Highest |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.1±9.4Lowest 13% below ME |
43.4±3Highest 3% below ME |
41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Princeton and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mars Hill and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,406±$26kLowest 25% below ME |
$65,273±$9kHighest 13% below ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $120,800±$82kLowest 59% below ME |
$163,600±$23kHighest 45% below ME |
$159,600±$26k 46% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $675±$351 41% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,573Lowest 48% below ME |
$1,843Highest 39% below ME |
$1,610 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±23.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Princeton and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 13% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Knox and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Princeton Public Schools | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.