Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Columbia
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Columbia has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
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 | Unity | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 809 |
1,884Highest |
1,858 |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
41.9±6.4 6% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Columbia and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Columbia 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% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$56,667±$15k 24% 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$158,700±$19kLowest 46% 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$894±$162Highest 22% below ME |
| Columbia and Unity 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Columbia 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
13.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4Lowest 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.