Compare towns
Albion vs Augusta vs Unity vs China
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
China has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Albion | Augusta | Unity | China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,204 |
19,077Highest |
1,858Lowest |
4,526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| China and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,900±$31k 22% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$240,000±$37kHighest 19% below ME |
| China and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $919±$79Highest 19% below ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
— |
| Augusta and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,987Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,535Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 36% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Albion 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9Highest |
12.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.