Compare towns
Albion vs Benton vs Unity
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).
Benton has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Benton | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,204 |
2,770Highest |
1,858Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
| Albion and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Unity 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%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
| Unity and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
| Albion and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,987 35% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton 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% |
10%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 36% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest 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 | — | #85 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.