Compare towns
Unity vs Athens vs Troy vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Unity | Athens | Troy | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858Highest |
791Lowest |
984 |
837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
49.3±13.6Highest 10% above ME |
33.5±11.3 25% below ME |
| Troy and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Troy and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
| Somerville and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME |
| Somerville and Troy 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 |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$1,255±$211 10% above ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Somerville and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,752 42% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.8% ME: 10.7% |
17%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Troy 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 | Athens Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | None in town | 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.