Compare towns
Eliot vs Jefferson vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
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 | Eliot | Jefferson | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,013Lowest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jefferson and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | Unity School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 14 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.