Compare towns

Randolph vs Howland vs Phillips

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.6%).
Howland has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Phillips has the most people working from home (16.8%).

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.

MeasureRandolphHowlandPhillips
People
Population
1,610Highest
1,367
1,094Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.6%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-11.8%
ME: +2.6%
-12.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.6±3.4
11% above ME
47.6±10.2Lowest
6% above ME
49.7±3.7Highest
11% above ME
Phillips and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.7%±4.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22%±5.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
20.7%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
Howland and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.8%±2.9Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.8%±4.1
ME: 22.4%
21.3%±2.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.8%
ME: 36.2%
12%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
20.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.1%±1.9
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Phillips and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,574±$16kHighest
11% below ME
$49,297±$21k
34% below ME
$45,385±$12kLowest
39% below ME
Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$174,300±$21k
41% below ME
$150,100±$52kLowest
49% below ME
$190,800±$18kHighest
36% below ME
Phillips and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,186±$207Highest
4% above ME
$916±$246
20% below ME
$483±$377Lowest
58% below ME
Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,160
29% below ME
$1,546Lowest
49% below ME
$2,582Highest
15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
11.3%±8.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
29%±18.2
ME: 48.4%
40.4%±33Highest
ME: 48.4%
Phillips and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
25.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
17.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
77.9%
ME: 74.3%
83.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
18 yrs older than ME
1970
7 yrs older than ME
1974Highest
3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
7% below ME
31 minHighest
26% above ME
23 minLowest
8% below ME
Work from home
4.3%±3.6
ME: 15.9%
0%±3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
16.8%±7Highest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district — RSU 31/MSAD 31 RSU 58/MSAD 58
High school in town — Penobscot Valley High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.