What stands out worked out from the figures below

Caribou has the oldest population (median age 51.3).

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	Caribou	Unity
People
Population	7,382Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.3±1.7Highest 15% above ME	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1%	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Caribou and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4%	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,709±$9kLowest 28% below ME	$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME
	Unity and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$134,100±$31kLowest 55% below ME	$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$757±$143Lowest 34% below ME	$873±$73Highest 23% below ME
	Unity and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,680Lowest 45% below ME	$2,510Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.3%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4%	44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Caribou and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3% ME: 74.3%	72.3% ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 40% below ME	21 minHighest 14% below ME
Work from home	12.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Unity and Caribou 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	#59 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 39	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center
High school in town	Caribou High School	Ecology Learning Ctr
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	12.4Lowest
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.