Compare towns
Sullivan vs Unity vs Milbridge vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Milbridge has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Franklin has the highest household income ($65k).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sullivan | Unity | Milbridge | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,246 |
1,858Highest |
1,222Lowest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.1±15 5% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
50.3±6.2Highest 12% above ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
| Milbridge and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
28.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$60,536±$16k 19% below ME |
$65,455±$16kHighest 12% below ME |
| Franklin and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$240,400±$31k 19% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
| Franklin and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $883±$114 22% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$619±$186Lowest 46% below ME |
$888±$306Highest 22% below ME |
| Franklin and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,228 27% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,022Lowest 33% below ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Milbridge and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.1% ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 24 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | — |
| High school in town | Sumner Memorial High School | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Lowest |
12.4Highest |
— | — |
| 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.