Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Mapleton vs Oakfield 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 most people working from home (18.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Oakfield has the most affordable homes ($144k 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 | Mapleton | Oakfield | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 809 |
1,884Highest |
629Lowest |
1,858 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
57.7±6.3 29% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.4%±9.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
36.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Oakfield and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$46,378±$3k 38% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$144,300±$46kLowest 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 |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$592±$261 48% below ME |
$873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
| Unity and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,272Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.6%±13.6 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
69.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1977 same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 22% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
19 minLowest 25% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±4.5Lowest 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 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.