Compare towns
Hudson vs Unity vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Alton has the most kids (18.1% under 18).
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 | Hudson | Unity | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,305 |
1,858Highest |
819Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±6.1 6% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
49.1±5.9Highest 10% above ME |
| Alton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Alton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±2.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Alton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,933±$12kHighest 9% below ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$62,955±$9k 16% below ME |
| Hudson and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $157,300±$9kLowest 47% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$179,500±$25k 39% below ME |
| Unity and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,086±$307Highest 5% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$866±$48Lowest 24% below ME |
| Hudson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,543 49% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,476Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.3%±51.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 24% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Alton 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 34 |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| 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.