Compare towns
Albion vs Stoneham vs Unity vs Benton
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 most expensive homes ($231k median).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (40.7%).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Benton has the most kids (19.9% 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 | Albion | Stoneham | Unity | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,204 |
271Lowest |
1,858 |
2,770Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±7.5 18% above ME |
60.6±7.1Highest 35% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
42.8±6 4% below ME |
| Stoneham and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.9%±7.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8Highest 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%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
41%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Stoneham and Albion 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% |
37.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
14.8%±13.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Unity and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
$63,750±$27kHighest 15% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
| Stoneham and Unity 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 |
$226,200±$32k 24% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
| Albion and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$383Highest about the ME average |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,110±$123 about the ME average |
| Stoneham and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,987 35% below ME |
$1,426Lowest 53% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,758 42% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Stoneham and Benton 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% |
7.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
10% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 36% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
40.7%±15.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #85 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.