Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Harrington 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).
Harrington has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
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 | Harrington | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809Lowest |
917 |
1,858Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
49.2±12.1 10% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Harrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.7%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Harrington 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% |
32%±9.5 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Harrington 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% |
27.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$64,861±$17kHighest 13% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
| Harrington 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 |
$144,600±$71kLowest 51% 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 | $1,950 36% below ME |
$1,777Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
79.3%±39Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Harrington and Cherryfield 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% |
13.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 22% above ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest 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 37/MSAD 37 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center |
| High school in town | None in town | Narraguagus High School | Ecology Learning Ctr |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
12.4Highest |
| 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.