Compare towns
Strong vs Thorndike 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.5%).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
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 | Thorndike | Phillips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,249 |
1,403Highest |
1,094Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below 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% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Phillips 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% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 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% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Strong 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 |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
$205,600±$88kHighest 31% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
| Thorndike and Phillips 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 |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
| Strong and Thorndike 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 |
$2,537 16% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Phillips and Thorndike 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% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Strong 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 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt View High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
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| 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.