Compare towns
Clinton vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Fairfield has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Clinton | Mapleton | Unity | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,385 |
1,884 |
1,858Lowest |
6,519Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.7±4.3Highest 13% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43.1±4 4% below ME |
| Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Clinton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,458±$39k 4% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$64,101±$11k 14% below ME |
| Mapleton and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,000±$28k 37% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$164,300±$28kLowest 45% below ME |
| Unity and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,177±$118Highest 3% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,001±$101 12% below ME |
| Clinton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,910 37% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,217 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±26.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±12.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Clinton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1977 same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 14.8%±11.3 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Clinton 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 | #116 of 133 in ME | — | — | #47 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 49/MSAD 49 · Maine Academy of Natural Sciences |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| 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.