Compare towns

Unity vs Belfast vs Troy

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%).
Belfast has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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.

MeasureUnityBelfastTroy
People
Population
1,858
6,986Highest
984Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+4%
ME: +2.6%
-1.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
27.5±2.2Lowest
39% below ME
60.6±3.1Highest
35% above ME
49.3±13.6
10% above ME
Belfast and Troy 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%
14.2%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
20.7%±7Highest
ME: 18.1%
Troy and Belfast 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%
39.1%±5.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
27%±4.6
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%
ME: 36.2%
42.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
21.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
30%±4.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.1%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.5%±2.8
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,857±$6k
16% below ME
$67,679±$9kHighest
9% below ME
$44,583±$14kLowest
40% below ME
Belfast 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
$340,900±$34kHighest
15% above ME
$213,000±$31k
28% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$873±$73Lowest
23% below ME
$962±$92
16% below ME
$1,255±$211Highest
10% above ME
Troy and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,510
17% below ME
$4,145Highest
37% above ME
$1,752Lowest
42% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.8%±13Lowest
ME: 48.4%
47.4%±14.4
ME: 48.4%
53.2%±44.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
Troy and Belfast 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%
16%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
17.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%
ME: 74.3%
68.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
86.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1967Lowest
10 yrs older than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
14% below ME
22 min
13% below ME
50 minHighest
102% above ME
Work from home
15.8%±7.6
ME: 15.9%
12%±6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
25.3%±8.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
Troy and Unity 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 — #84 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center RSU 71 RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town Ecology Learning Ctr Belfast Area High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.4Highest
11.3Lowest
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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.