What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dixfield has the oldest population (median age 49.9).

Unity has the most people working from home (15.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dixfield	Unity
People
Population	2,300Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME
Kids under 18	16.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dixfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,613±$9kHighest 6% below ME	$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME
	Dixfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,900±$24kLowest 46% below ME	$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME
	Unity and Dixfield 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	$873±$73Highest 23% below ME
	Unity and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,324Lowest 23% below ME	$2,510Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4%	44.8%±13Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 56	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center
High school in town	Dirigo High School	Ecology Learning Ctr
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	12.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.