Compare towns
Dixmont vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Clifton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Clifton has the oldest population (median age 52.7).
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 | Dixmont | Mapleton | Unity | Clifton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,207 |
1,884Highest |
1,858 |
1,111Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.9±4.7 14% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
52.7±7.1Highest 18% above ME |
| Clifton and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Clifton and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
8.6%±8.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,952±$14k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$70,313±$16k 6% below ME |
| Mapleton and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,700±$22kLowest 36% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$202,500±$67k 32% below ME |
| Unity and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,217±$624 7% above ME |
| Dixmont and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,838 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Clifton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 40% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 19 | 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.