Compare towns
Anson vs Unity vs Howland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Unity has the most people working from home (9.5%).
Howland has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Anson | Unity | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
1,375 |
1,367Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.6±10.2 22% above U.S. |
| Unity and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
12% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21k 35% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$49,297±$21kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Unity and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 65% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$150,100±$52k 55% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 34% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$916±$246Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Unity and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572 50% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,546Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Unity and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Unity School District | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.