Compare towns
Troy vs Appleton 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
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Phillips has the most affordable homes ($191k 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 | Troy | Appleton | Phillips | Milbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,094 |
1,222 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±13.6 10% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above 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 | 20.7%±7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Troy and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$45,385±$12k 39% below ME |
$60,536±$16kHighest 19% below ME |
| Milbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
$240,400±$31kHighest 19% below ME |
| Milbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$211Highest 10% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$619±$186 46% below ME |
| Troy and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$2,022 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±44.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 50 minHighest 102% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Troy and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Appleton Public Schools | 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 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.