Compare towns
Strong vs Mapleton vs Phillips 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 most affordable homes ($184k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Mapleton | Phillips | Milbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,249 |
1,884Highest |
1,094Lowest |
1,222 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
49.7±3.7 11% 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 | 19.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$60,536±$16k 19% below ME |
| Mapleton and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$240,400±$31kHighest 19% below ME |
| Milbridge and Mapleton 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 |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$619±$186 46% below ME |
| Strong and Milbridge 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$2,022 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Milbridge and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.