Compare towns
East Machias vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
East Machias has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | East Machias | Mapleton | Unity | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,223 |
1,884Highest |
1,375 |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.9 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.5±7 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$81,300±$7k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,800±$23k 37% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$220,300±$57k 34% below U.S. |
| Unity and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $907±$566 36% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,165±$152 18% below U.S. |
| Unity and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,836 41% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,207 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±40.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| East Machias and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | East Machias Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.