Compare towns
Prospect vs Unity vs Monroe vs Burnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($220k median).
Burnham has the most affordable homes ($178k 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 | Prospect | Unity | Monroe | Burnham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 923Lowest |
1,858Highest |
1,001 |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
-5.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
48.4±3.2Highest 8% above ME |
| Burnham and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3% ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$17k 9% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$59,261±$18kLowest 21% below ME |
| Monroe and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
$178,100±$43kLowest 40% below ME |
| Monroe and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,107±$61 about the ME average |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
$1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
| Burnham and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,979 35% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$1,897Lowest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
60.9%±49Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Burnham and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
87.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 34% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Burnham 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| 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 | 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.