Compare towns
Phillips vs Exeter vs Strong
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).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Strong has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.5%).
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 | Phillips | Exeter | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,094 |
1,093Lowest |
1,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% 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% |
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+ | 21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Strong 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% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Phillips and Strong 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±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Exeter and Strong 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 |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±33Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Phillips and Exeter 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest 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.