What stands out worked out from the figures below

Patten has the oldest population (median age 57.8).

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	Patten	Unity
People
Population	1,154Lowest	1,858Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME
Kids under 18	11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	14%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Unity and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME	$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME
	Unity and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME	$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME	$873±$73Highest 23% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME	$2,510Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4%	44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Patten and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	17.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% above ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Patten and Unity 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
High school in town	—	Ecology Learning Ctr
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.4
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.