Compare towns
Bradford vs Exeter vs Unity vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
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 | Bradford | Exeter | Unity | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,254 |
1,093Lowest |
1,858Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±8 11% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Exeter and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±1.9 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,955±$26k 11% above ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Exeter and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,200±$15k 41% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Unity and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $742±$392 35% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Exeter and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,315 24% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bradford and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.8% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 57% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 56 |
| High school 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.