Compare towns
Stow vs Unity vs Jackman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most expensive homes ($326k median).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Jackman has the most affordable homes ($173k 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 | Stow | Unity | Jackman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535Lowest |
1,858Highest |
695 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 57±10.5Highest 27% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
54.2±5.7 21% above ME |
| Stow and Jackman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.5%±6.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Stow and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±17.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.7%±6.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Stow and Jackman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,204±$22k 44% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$33,625±$19kLowest 55% below ME |
| Unity and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$42kHighest 10% above ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$172,700±$61kLowest 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$475±$143Lowest 58% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304Highest 9% above ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$1,492Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±24.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Jackman and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 109% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
27 min 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±6.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Stow 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 | 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.