Compare towns
Strong vs Union vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Strong | Union | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,249Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Unity and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Unity and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Unity School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.