Compare towns
Harrington vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Cherryfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harrington has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
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 | Harrington | Mapleton | Unity | Cherryfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917 |
1,884Highest |
1,858 |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±12.1 10% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Harrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Harrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32%±9.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Harrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,861±$17k 13% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
| Mapleton and Harrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $144,600±$71kLowest 51% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
| Unity and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
| Unity and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,777Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±39Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Harrington and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 21% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Cherryfield Public Schools |
| High school in town | Narraguagus High School | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.