What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lewiston has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

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	Lewiston	Unity
People
Population	38,324Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.3±1.2Highest 17% below ME	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME
Kids under 18	20.6%±1.5Highest ME: 18.1%	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.3%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4%	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME	$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME
	Unity and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,100±$8kHighest 21% below ME	$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME
	Lewiston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$986±$44Highest 13% below ME	$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME
	Lewiston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,899Highest 5% below ME	$2,510Lowest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4%	44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Lewiston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20%Highest ME: 10.7%	17.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 15% below ME	21 minHighest 14% below ME
Work from home	12.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Unity and Lewiston 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	#132 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center
High school in town	Lewiston High School	Ecology Learning Ctr
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	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.