Compare towns
Abbot vs Unity vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abbot has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Chester has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Abbot | Unity | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 584Lowest |
1,858Highest |
598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.5Highest 8% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
44±10 about the ME average |
| Abbot and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Chester and Abbot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,542±$24kLowest 22% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$64,500±$8kHighest 14% below ME |
| Chester and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,200±$36kLowest 42% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$172,500±$59k 42% below ME |
| Unity and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$73Highest about the ME average |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$833±$51Lowest 27% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,393 54% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,378Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.7%±41.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±37.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.4% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 11% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.1%±17.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Abbot and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.