Compare towns
Phillips vs Lowell vs Union
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).
Lowell has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Lowell | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,094 |
378Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Lowell and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest 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% |
31.2%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 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 |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
$209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Lowell 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 |
— | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Phillips 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 |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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 | 17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 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 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.

