Compare towns
Rome vs Millinocket vs Smithfield vs Cushing
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k 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.
| Measure | Rome | Millinocket | Smithfield | Cushing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,215 |
4,115Highest |
856Lowest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.7% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME |
54.2±6.2 21% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
| Smithfield and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Rome and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±9.1 ME: 22.4% |
36.2%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Millinocket and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7% ME: 36.2% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Rome and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
$51,007±$9kLowest 32% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$83,500±$19k 12% above ME |
| Smithfield and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,300±$36k 11% above ME |
$103,800±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$451±$130Lowest 60% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
| Cushing and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,829 40% below ME |
$1,580Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.5%±11Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Rome and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% ME: 10.7% |
17.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Cushing 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 | — | #98 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Millinocket Public Schools | — | RSU 13 |
| High school in town | — | Stearns Jr-Sr High School | — | None in town |
| 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.