Compare towns
Strong vs Wayne vs Phillips vs Harrington
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 youngest population (median age 47.5).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Harrington has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
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 | Wayne | Phillips | Harrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,249Highest |
1,101 |
1,094 |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
49.2±12.1 10% above ME |
| Wayne and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±3.9 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% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Harrington and Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$64,861±$17k 13% below ME |
| Wayne and Harrington 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$144,600±$71kLowest 51% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$276 19% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
— |
| Wayne and Strong 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$1,777Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
79.3%±39Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Harrington 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
83.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 38 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Narraguagus High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.