Compare towns
Unity vs Belfast vs Troy vs Freedom
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%).
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
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 | Belfast | Troy | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
6,986Highest |
984 |
670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% 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 |
40.1±2.7 10% below 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%±7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom and Troy 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% |
22.1%±2.9 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% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
| Belfast and Freedom 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 |
$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
$213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
$190,600±$69kLowest 36% 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 |
$2,328 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%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 |
1985 8 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 |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9Lowest 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 |
— | — |
| 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.