Compare towns
Strong vs Topsfield 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 people working from home (18.5%).
Topsfield has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
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 | Topsfield | Phillips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,249Highest |
214Lowest |
1,094 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
63.5±4.9Highest 42% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±10.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Strong 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% |
44.9%±12.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±5.3Lowest 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 |
$48,125±$16kHighest 36% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
| Topsfield and Strong 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 |
$141,700±$32kLowest 52% below ME |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% 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 |
— | $483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
| Strong and Phillips 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 |
$957Lowest 68% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% |
13.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 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 | East Range CSD | 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.