What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.9%).

Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Phillips
People
Population	819Lowest	1,094Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.1±5.9Lowest 10% above ME	49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME
	Phillips and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.7%±5.1Highest 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%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4%	21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Alton and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	20.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%
	Phillips and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,955±$9kHighest 16% below ME	$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME
	Alton and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$179,500±$25kLowest 39% below ME	$190,800±$18kHighest 36% 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	$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME
	Alton and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,476Lowest 51% below ME	$2,582Highest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4%	40.4%±33Lowest 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%	17.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	23 minLowest 8% below ME
Work from home	15.3%±7.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.8%±7Highest 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

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.