Compare towns
Phillips vs Dedham vs Union vs Avon
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Union has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Avon has the most affordable homes ($142k 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 | Dedham | Union | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,094 |
1,656 |
2,663Highest |
359Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
47.1±5.1 5% above ME |
| Phillips and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±4.1Lowest 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±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$63,125±$32k 16% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$141,700±$42kLowest 52% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $483±$377 58% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$465±$30Lowest 59% below ME |
| Dedham 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 |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$1,469Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
90%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Avon and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
42 minHighest 71% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±8.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Dedham 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.