Compare towns
Unity vs Augusta vs Palmyra vs Albion
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% under 18).
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Augusta | Palmyra | Albion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858Lowest |
19,077Highest |
2,209 |
2,204 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and Augusta 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% |
28.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
$62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
| Unity and Albion 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 |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME |
| Albion 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 |
$919±$79Highest 19% below ME |
$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
— |
| Augusta and Unity 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 |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,987 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Palmyra 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% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Albion 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Cony | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
17.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.