Compare towns
Strong vs Union vs Danforth 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Milbridge has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Union | Danforth | Milbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,249 |
2,663Highest |
452Lowest |
1,222 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
50.3±6.2 12% above ME |
| Danforth and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest 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+ | 22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge and Danforth 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% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Danforth 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 |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$60,536±$16k 19% below ME |
| Union 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±$29k 38% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% 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 | $920±$276 19% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$629±$22 45% below ME |
$619±$186Lowest 46% below ME |
| Union and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
— | $2,022 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Milbridge and Union 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% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest 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 40/MSAD 40 | — | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.