What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belfast	Unity
People
Population	6,986Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME
Kids under 18	14.2%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Belfast and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,679±$9kHighest 9% below ME	$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME
	Belfast and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME	$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$92Highest 16% below ME	$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME
	Belfast and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,145Highest 37% above ME	$2,510Lowest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4%	44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Belfast and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 13% below ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Unity and Belfast 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	#84 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 71	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center
High school in town	Belfast Area High School	Ecology Learning Ctr
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.