Compare towns
Phillips vs Mars Hill vs Troy
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 population (median age 49.7).
Mars Hill has the highest household income ($65k).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
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 | Mars Hill | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,094 |
1,398Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
49.3±13.6 10% above ME |
| Phillips and Troy 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% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill 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% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Troy and Mars Hill 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% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill and Troy 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 |
$65,273±$9kHighest 13% below ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Phillips 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 |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$213,000±$31kHighest 28% below ME |
| Troy and Phillips 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 |
$488±$96 57% below ME |
$1,255±$211Highest 10% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Troy and Phillips 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% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 8% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Troy 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 42/MSAD 42 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.