Compare towns
Princeton vs Unity vs Jonesboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most kids (28.2% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Jonesboro has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Princeton | Unity | Jonesboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 866 |
1,858Highest |
570Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.1±9.4Highest 13% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
38.3±13 15% below ME |
| Princeton and Jonesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±3 ME: 22.4% |
| Princeton and Jonesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,406±$26kLowest 25% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$63,750±$14kHighest 15% below ME |
| Jonesboro and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $120,800±$82kLowest 59% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$151,400±$75k 49% below ME |
| Unity and Jonesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $675±$351Lowest 41% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,081±$145Highest 5% below ME |
| Jonesboro and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,573 48% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,253Lowest 59% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±23.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.1%±32.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Princeton and Jonesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 13% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
19 minLowest 22% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.6%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Princeton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Jonesboro Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
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| 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.