Compare towns
Lee vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Athens
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
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 | Unity | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 925 |
1,884Highest |
1,858 |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5Highest 15% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Lee and Athens 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Athens 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% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% 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±$277 46% below ME |
$873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest 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 | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.