What stands out worked out from the figures below

Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Oakland	Unity
People
Population	6,309Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.2±6.9Highest 10% below ME	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME
Kids under 18	23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	18.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4%	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Oakland and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,813±$16kHighest 4% above ME	$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME
	Oakland and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$236,000±$23kHighest 20% below ME	$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME
	Oakland and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$939±$74Highest 18% below ME	$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME
	Oakland and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,439Lowest 20% below ME	$2,510Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4%	44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Oakland and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 8% above ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Unity and Oakland 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	#23 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 18	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center
High school in town	Messalonskee High School	Ecology Learning Ctr
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	12.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.