Compare towns
Mars Hill vs Union vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Mars Hill | Union | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398 |
2,663Highest |
1,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±3 12% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mars Hill and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,273±$9kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Unity and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.6%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Unity School District |
| High school in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.