Compare towns
Lubec vs Unity vs Patten vs Perry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lubec has the oldest population (median age 59.3).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Patten has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Perry has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Lubec | Unity | Patten | Perry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,346 |
1,858Highest |
1,154 |
744Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 59.3±4.5Highest 32% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
57.8±3.5 29% above ME |
45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
| Lubec and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 41.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
21%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Lubec and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4.6 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,375±$11k 30% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME |
$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $188,700±$26k 36% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME |
$196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
| Unity and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $550±$204 52% below ME |
$873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,039 33% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$1,199Lowest 61% below ME |
$3,132Highest 3% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±25.6 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Patten and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.5% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1966 11 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
26 min 6% above ME |
| Work from home | 26.3%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Patten and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 85/MSAD 19 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — | Perry Public Schools |
| High school 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.