Compare towns
Howland vs Phillips vs Anson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Howland has the most renters (22.1% rent).
Phillips has the most people working from home (16.8%).
Anson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-8.8%).
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 | Howland | Phillips | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,367 |
1,094Lowest |
2,331Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
| Phillips and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Howland and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12% ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,297±$21k 34% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$52,474±$21kHighest 30% below ME |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Phillips and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$246 20% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,572 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Phillips and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Penobscot Valley High School | None in town | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.