Compare towns
Jefferson vs Sidney vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
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 | Jefferson | Sidney | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
4,790Highest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jefferson and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Sidney 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 18 | Unity School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.