Compare towns
Mercer vs Unity vs Norridgewock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mercer has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Norridgewock has the most affordable homes ($152k 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 | Mercer | Unity | Norridgewock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718Lowest |
1,858 |
3,288Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
50.3±11Highest 12% above ME |
| Norridgewock and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
10.5%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2kHighest 5% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$61,579±$19kLowest 18% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$151,900±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
| Mercer and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,063±$588 7% below ME |
| Mercer and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970 35% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,462Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Norridgewock and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
22 min 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Norridgewock and Mercer 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 | — | — | #91 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 54/MSAD 54 |
| High school 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 |
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.