Compare towns
Alton vs Danforth vs Phillips vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Bridgewater has the highest household income ($65k).
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 | Alton | Danforth | Phillips | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 819 |
666 |
1,094Highest |
484Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
48.8±8Lowest 9% above ME |
| Danforth and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bridgewater and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
$48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME |
| Bridgewater and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,500±$25k 39% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$154,900±$78k 48% below ME |
| Phillips and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $866±$48Highest 24% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$768±$116 33% below ME |
| Alton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,476 51% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,417 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 34 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school 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.