Compare towns
Etna vs Unity vs Steuben vs Dixmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Etna has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Steuben has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Etna | Unity | Steuben | Dixmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,252 |
1,858Highest |
1,388 |
1,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.4 6% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
40.1±8.5 10% below ME |
50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Steuben and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±1.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1 ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Dixmont and Etna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
24.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,379±$16k 3% below ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
$75,952±$14k about the ME average |
| Steuben and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,000±$49k 38% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$190,700±$22k 36% below ME |
| Unity and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $873±$73 23% below ME |
$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,745 43% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,029 33% below ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Etna and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 12% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
35 minHighest 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 24 | RSU 19 |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.