Compare towns

Pittston vs Phillips vs Bowdoin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Phillips has the most people working from home (16.8%).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k 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.

MeasurePittstonPhillipsBowdoin
People
Population
3,093
1,094Lowest
3,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-12.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2.5%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.4±5.9Lowest
8% below ME
49.7±3.7Highest
11% above ME
44.3±10
about the ME average
Phillips and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±7.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
20.7%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
19.1%±6.2
ME: 18.1%
Phillips and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±6.1
ME: 22.4%
21.3%±2.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Phillips and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.7%
ME: 36.2%
20.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
30.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±4.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Pittston and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,614±$18k
16% above ME
$45,385±$12kLowest
39% below ME
$91,239±$13kHighest
22% above ME
Bowdoin and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$238,700±$66k
20% below ME
$190,800±$18kLowest
36% below ME
$292,800±$71kHighest
about the ME average
Bowdoin and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,080±$593Highest
5% below ME
$483±$377Lowest
58% below ME
—
Pittston and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,909Lowest
37% below ME
$2,582
15% below ME
$3,375Highest
11% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.6%±34.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
40.4%±33
ME: 48.4%
0%±42.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Pittston and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
17.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
11%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
83.3%
ME: 74.3%
84.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1974Lowest
3 yrs older than ME
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
7% above ME
23 minLowest
8% below ME
32 minHighest
29% above ME
Work from home
3.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
16.8%±7Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.7%±7
ME: 15.9%
Phillips and Bowdoin 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 #123 of 133 in ME — #28 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 11/MSAD 11 RSU 58/MSAD 58 RSU 75/MSAD 75
High school in town None 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.