Compare towns
Strong vs Howland vs Milbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strong has the youngest population (median age 47.5).
Howland has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Milbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Strong | Howland | Milbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,249 |
1,367Highest |
1,222Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
50.3±6.2Highest 12% above ME |
| Milbridge and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Howland and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$49,297±$21k 34% below ME |
$60,536±$16kHighest 19% below ME |
| Milbridge and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$150,100±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
$240,400±$31kHighest 19% below ME |
| Milbridge and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
$619±$186Lowest 46% below ME |
| Strong and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,022Highest 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Milbridge and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge and Strong 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 31/MSAD 31 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.