Compare towns
Burnham vs Unity vs Phillips vs Alton
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 most homeowners (87.8%).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Alton has the highest household income ($63k).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Phillips | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 953 |
1,858Highest |
1,094 |
819Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
49.1±5.9 10% 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 | 16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±3.5 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+ | 22.2%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Burnham and Alton 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% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$62,955±$9kHighest 16% below ME |
| Alton and Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$179,500±$25k 39% below ME |
| Unity and Phillips 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$866±$48 24% below ME |
| Burnham and Unity 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,476Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Lowest ME: 48.4% |
76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
83.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 13% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±7.3Lowest 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.