Compare towns
Dixfield vs Union vs Unity vs Carthage
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dixfield has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Carthage has the most affordable homes ($144k 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 | Dixfield | Union | Unity | Carthage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,300 |
2,663Highest |
1,858 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
42.8±10.9 4% below ME |
| Dixfield and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
10.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$79,107±$18k 6% above ME |
| Union and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$144,300±$41kLowest 51% below ME |
| Union and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$811±$262 29% below ME |
| Union and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,324 23% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$1,239Lowest 59% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Dixfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
10%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | Dirigo High School | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.