Compare towns
Athens vs Phillips vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6.6%).
Phillips has the most people working from home (16.8%).
Starks has the highest household income ($64k).
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 | Athens | Phillips | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791 |
1,094Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
| Phillips and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Athens and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
21%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
| Starks and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Phillips and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $538±$457 53% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
| Starks and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,355 55% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.1%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Athens Public Schools | 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 |
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.