Compare towns
Mapleton vs Unity vs Lee vs East Machias
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
East Machias has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Unity | Lee | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Highest |
1,375 |
925Lowest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
51.5±11.5 32% above U.S. |
42.8±2.9 10% above U.S. |
| Unity and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| East Machias and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$49,886±$5kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$57,589±$10k 29% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$174,500±$25kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$210,800±$23k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $907±$566 36% below U.S. |
| Unity and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,547Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$1,836 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±40.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | East Machias Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.


