Compare towns
Solon vs Phillips vs Union vs Burnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Phillips has the most renters (16.7% rent).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Solon | Phillips | Union | Burnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 963 |
1,094 |
2,663Highest |
953Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
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 | 17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Solon and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25% ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2 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 | $69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
| Union and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$178,100±$43kLowest 40% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $915±$100 20% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
| Burnham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,897 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 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 | 10.7% ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 52 minHighest 113% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Burnham and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| 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 | 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.