What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Machias has the most kids (23.3% under 18).

Unity has the most people working from home (9.5%).

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	East Machias	Unity
People
Population	1,223Lowest	1,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±2.9Lowest 10% above U.S.	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,589±$10kLowest 29% below U.S.	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$210,800±$23kLowest 37% below U.S.	$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$566Lowest 36% below U.S.	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.
	Unity and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,836Lowest 41% below U.S.	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±40.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	East Machias and Unity 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%	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.
Work from home	4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Unity and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	East Machias Public Schools	Unity School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.