Compare towns
Garland vs Unity vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Garland has the most kids (18% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Garland | Unity | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 823Lowest |
1,858Highest |
1,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.5±4.3Highest 19% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
| Garland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Garland and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,094±$12kLowest 32% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,400±$38k 31% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
| Unity and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$248Lowest 30% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
| Exeter and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,536Lowest 49% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±46.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Garland and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Exeter 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.