What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Auburn has the most kids (21.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Unity	Auburn
People
Population	1,858Lowest	24,602Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+4.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME	41.4±2.7Highest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%	19.8%±2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	27.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%	5.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME	$66,647±$5kHighest 11% below ME
	Auburn 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±$28kLowest 30% below ME	$282,000±$12kHighest 5% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME	$1,041±$74Highest 9% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,510Lowest 17% below ME	$3,687Highest 21% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.4%±7.4Highest ME: 48.4%
	Auburn and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	59.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 14% below ME	22 minHighest 12% below ME
Work from home	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%	11.5%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Unity and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#110 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center	Auburn Public Schools
High school in town	Ecology Learning Ctr	Edward Little High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	13.1Highest
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.