Compare towns
Phillips vs Cherryfield vs Union vs Burnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phillips has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Cherryfield has the most renters (33.2% rent).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Burnham has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
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 | Phillips | Cherryfield | Union | Burnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,094 |
809Lowest |
2,663Highest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.7 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+ | 21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2 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 | $45,385±$12k 39% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
| Union and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$178,100±$43kLowest 40% below ME |
| Union and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $483±$377 58% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
| Burnham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,582 15% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,897Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.9%±49Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Burnham and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.7% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 8% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| 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.