Compare towns
Strong vs Belgrade vs Phillips
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 affordable homes ($184k median).
Belgrade has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Phillips has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Belgrade | Phillips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,249 |
3,351Highest |
1,094Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
47.3±14.6Lowest 6% above ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% 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% |
22.6%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Belgrade and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Belgrade and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Phillips 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 |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$312,200±$44kHighest 5% above ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
| Strong and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,859Highest 6% below ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Phillips and Strong 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% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Strong 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 18 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.