Compare towns
Burnham vs Unity vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Pittsfield has the most kids (26.7% 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 | Burnham | Unity | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953Lowest |
1,858 |
3,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2Highest 8% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
35.6±6.8 21% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Pittsfield and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Burnham and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
7.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18kLowest 21% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$61,458±$11k 18% below ME |
| Unity and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43k 40% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$162,100±$13kLowest 45% below ME |
| Unity and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$909±$270 20% below ME |
| Burnham and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897Lowest 38% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,916 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
44.2%±22.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Burnham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
18.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1949Lowest 28 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 13% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
23 minHighest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
13.7%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Burnham 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 | — | — | #125 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.