What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the oldest population (median age 39.5).

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	Jay	Unity
People
Population	4,657Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.5±5.1Highest 12% below ME	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME
Kids under 18	17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Jay and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Jay and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME	$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME
	Jay and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME	$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME
	Unity and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME	$873±$73Highest 23% below ME
	Unity and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,245Lowest 26% below ME	$2,510Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4%
	Unity and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 13% below ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Unity and Jay 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	#86 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 73	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center
High school in town	Spruce Mountain High School	Ecology Learning Ctr
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	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.