Compare towns
Alfred vs Unity vs Shapleigh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alfred has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Shapleigh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Alfred | Unity | Shapleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,125Highest |
1,375Lowest |
2,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±5.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
46.9±10 21% above U.S. |
| Unity and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shapleigh and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shapleigh and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,321±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$88,140±$9kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Shapleigh and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,300±$38k about the U.S. average |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$356,000±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Shapleigh and Alfred are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$432Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,349±$133 5% below U.S. |
| Unity and Shapleigh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,543 14% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,603Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 82.2%±29.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±61.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alfred and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shapleigh and Unity 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 | #74 of 133 in ME | — | #76 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Unity School District | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.