Compare towns
Strong vs Anson vs Phillips vs Avon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Anson has the highest household income ($88k).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 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 | Strong | Anson | Phillips | Avon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,249Highest |
680 |
1,094 |
359Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.6% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
43.3±15.2Lowest 3% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
47.1±5.1 5% above ME |
| Phillips and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.1%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Strong and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$63,125±$32k 16% below ME |
| Anson and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$141,700±$42k 52% below ME |
| Phillips and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$914±$247 20% below ME |
$483±$377 58% below ME |
$465±$30Lowest 59% below ME |
| Strong and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,469 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
90%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Avon and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
78.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
42 minHighest 71% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.