Compare towns
Palmyra vs Solon vs Unity vs Porter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% under 18).
Solon has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Porter has the most expensive homes ($226k 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 | Palmyra | Solon | Unity | Porter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,209Highest |
963Lowest |
1,858 |
1,746 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
40.9±7.9 9% below ME |
| Solon and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Solon and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
14% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$60,417±$9kLowest 19% below ME |
| Solon and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$226,100±$20kHighest 24% below ME |
| Porter and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
$915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
— |
| Solon and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,841 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Palmyra and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.