Compare towns
Shirley vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 42).
Unity has the most people working from home (15.8%).
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 | Shirley | Unity |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 234Lowest |
1,858Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42±8.2Highest 6% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±9.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Shirley and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±5.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $61,875±$22kLowest 17% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
| Unity and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,600±$36kHighest 26% below ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
| Shirley and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $873±$73 23% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,522Highest 17% below ME |
$2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 17%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 17% below ME |
21 minHighest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Shirley 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.