Compare towns
Calais vs Unity vs Milo vs Mexico
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
Mexico has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Calais | Unity | Milo | Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097Highest |
1,858Lowest |
2,165 |
2,782 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±5.1 about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43.9±7Highest about the ME average |
43.4±2.8 3% below ME |
| Milo and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mexico and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Calais and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,096±$10kHighest 14% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$56,875±$9k 24% below ME |
$55,727±$9kLowest 25% below ME |
| Calais and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $111,100±$36k 63% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$97,100±$27kLowest 67% below ME |
$110,800±$10k 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,010±$199 11% below ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$879±$400 23% below ME |
$1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
| Mexico and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,684 45% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,450Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,961 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.7%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Mexico and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
77%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 35% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 2.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1 ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Mexico 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 | #48 of 133 in ME | — | — | #130 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Calais Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Calais Middle/High School | Ecology Learning Ctr | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
12.4 |
12.5Highest |
— |
| 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.