Compare towns
Palmyra vs Unity vs Hartland
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).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hartland has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
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.
| Measure | Palmyra | Unity | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,209Highest |
1,858 |
1,602Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
53.2±4.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Hartland and Palmyra 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% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$46,141±$16kLowest 38% below ME |
| Unity and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $154,900±$34k 48% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$139,200±$10kLowest 53% below ME |
| Unity and Palmyra 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$911±$96Highest 20% below ME |
| Hartland 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,658 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
40.2%±25.6Lowest 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
2.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 19 |
| 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.