Compare towns
Phillips vs Exeter 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 most kids (20.7% under 18).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Burnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.8%).
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 | Phillips | Exeter | Burnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,094Highest |
1,093 |
953Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8% ME: +2.6% |
-5.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
48.4±3.2Lowest 8% above ME |
| Exeter and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Burnham 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% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter 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% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
| Exeter 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±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
| Phillips and Burnham 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 |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
| Burnham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,897 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.9%±49Highest 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 | 17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 8% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Burnham 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 | — | — |
| High school 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.