Compare towns

Phillips vs Topsham 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).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Burnham has the most affordable homes ($178k 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.

MeasurePhillipsTopshamBurnham
People
Population
1,094
9,706Highest
953Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+8.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-5.8%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.7±3.7Highest
11% above ME
44.7±4Lowest
about the ME average
48.4±3.2
8% above ME
Phillips and Burnham 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%
19.9%±3.6
ME: 18.1%
16.8%±4.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Phillips and Topsham 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%
24.4%±3.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.2%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
Topsham 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%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
50%Highest
ME: 36.2%
20.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±1.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.7%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Topsham and Phillips 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
$91,028±$10kHighest
22% above ME
$59,261±$18k
21% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$190,800±$18k
36% below ME
$360,800±$20kHighest
22% above ME
$178,100±$43kLowest
40% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$483±$377Lowest
58% below ME
$1,355±$642Highest
19% above ME
$1,308±$386
15% above ME
Topsham and Burnham 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
$4,259Highest
40% above ME
$1,897Lowest
38% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.4%±33
ME: 48.4%
40.3%±12.9Lowest
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%
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
13.6%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.3%
ME: 74.3%
78.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
87.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
3 yrs older than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1983Highest
6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
8% below ME
24 minHighest
4% below ME
22 minLowest
13% below ME
Work from home
16.8%±7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
17.2%±4.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
17%±10.9
ME: 15.9%
Topsham and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #66 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 58/MSAD 58 RSU 75/MSAD 75 —
High school in town None in town Mt Ararat High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2
—
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.