Compare towns
Addison vs Phillips vs Strong vs Beals
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Strong has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.5%).
Beals has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
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 | Addison | Phillips | Strong | Beals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,045 |
1,094 |
1,249Highest |
498Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.3% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.2±3.9Highest 21% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
48±15.6 7% above ME |
| Addison and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Beals and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,524±$8k 32% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$64,063±$14kHighest 14% below ME |
| Beals and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,500±$28kLowest 45% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$807 21% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$907±$378 20% below ME |
| Strong and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,625Lowest 46% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±47.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Addison and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 11% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Beals Public Schools |
| 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.