Compare towns
Burnham vs Union vs Phillips vs Solon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Phillips has the most renters (16.7% rent).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
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 | Union | Phillips | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 953Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,094 |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
| Phillips and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Phillips 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% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Solon 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Union 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 |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Union and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43kLowest 40% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Burnham and Union 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 |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest 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% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest 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 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school 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.