Compare towns
Burnham vs Exeter vs Phillips
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.8%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
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.
| Measure | Burnham | Exeter | Phillips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953Lowest |
1,093 |
1,094Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2Lowest 8% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
| Exeter and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
| Exeter and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
| Phillips and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
| Burnham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897 38% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
| Burnham and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Burnham and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school 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.