Compare towns

Mount Desert vs Unity vs Wayne

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Desert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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.

MeasureMount DesertUnityWayne
People
Population
1,671Highest
1,375
1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.9±8.2Lowest
41% above U.S.
58±4.5Highest
49% above U.S.
55.6±5.3
43% above U.S.
Unity and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
12%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Mount Desert and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.1%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.9%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Unity and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±4.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wayne and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,813±$9k
15% above U.S.
$87,500±$16kLowest
8% above U.S.
$93,194±$26kHighest
15% above U.S.
Wayne and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$522,100±$66kHighest
57% above U.S.
$276,100±$29kLowest
17% below U.S.
$362,800±$29k
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,341±$89
5% below U.S.
$1,625±$804Highest
15% above U.S.
$983±$554Lowest
30% below U.S.
Unity and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,512
13% above U.S.
$5,394Highest
73% above U.S.
$3,289Lowest
5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±31.5
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±52.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Unity and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
Work from home
19.1%±9.8
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.2%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wayne and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Mount Desert Public Schools Unity School District RSU 38
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.