Compare towns
Burnham vs Wayne vs Solon 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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Solon has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
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.
| Measure | Burnham | Wayne | Solon | Phillips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 953Lowest |
1,101Highest |
963 |
1,094 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Solon 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Solon 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Phillips 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
| Burnham and Wayne 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 38 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.