Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Freedom vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Freedom has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Cherryfield | Freedom | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809 |
670Lowest |
1,858Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$64,861±$12kHighest 13% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
| Freedom and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
| Unity and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
— | $873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,328 23% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Cherryfield Public Schools | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center |
| High school in town | None 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.