Compare towns
Lowell vs Phillips vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Lowell | Phillips | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 378Lowest |
1,094 |
1,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Lowell and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $50,833±$31kHighest 32% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Lowell and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Lowell and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Strong and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 24% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.