What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has the oldest population (median age 43.1).

Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairfield	Unity
People
Population	6,519Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.1±4Highest 4% below ME	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME
Kids under 18	19.8%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Fairfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Fairfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	22.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,101±$11kHighest 14% below ME	$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME
	Fairfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$164,300±$28kLowest 45% below ME	$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME
	Unity and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,001±$101Highest 12% below ME	$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME
	Fairfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,217Lowest 27% below ME	$2,510Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±12.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4%
	Unity and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	12.1%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Unity and Fairfield 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	#47 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 49/MSAD 49 · Maine Academy of Natural Sciences	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center
High school in town	Lawrence High School	Ecology Learning Ctr
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	12.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.