Compare towns
Mexico vs Unity vs Rumford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mexico has the most affordable homes ($111k median).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Rumford has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
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 | Mexico | Unity | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,782 |
1,858Lowest |
5,942Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8 3% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
50.4±3.4Highest 13% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mexico and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Rumford and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| Unity and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$127,700±$21k 57% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$803±$81Lowest 29% below ME |
| Mexico and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,961Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,988 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
59.1%±11.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Mexico and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
22.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 19 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the ME average |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Rumford 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 | #130 of 133 in ME | — | #126 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Mountain Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.