Compare towns
Lee vs Mapleton vs Springfield vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most homeowners (97%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
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 | Lee | Mapleton | Springfield | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
1,884Highest |
310Lowest |
1,858 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
52.4±7Highest 17% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
| Springfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.6%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
| Unity and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $873±$73Highest 23% 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 | $1,547 49% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.2% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr |
| 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.