Compare towns
Jackson vs Unity vs Union vs Dixmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Unity has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Unity | Union | Dixmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,858 |
2,663Highest |
1,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME |
| Dixmont and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$75,952±$14k about the ME average |
| Union and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$190,700±$22kLowest 36% below ME |
| Union and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
| Dixmont and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest 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 | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
35 min 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont and Union 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 40/MSAD 40 | 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 | 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.