Compare towns
Unity vs Benton 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%).
Benton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Freedom has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Benton | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,858 |
2,770Highest |
670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
42.8±6Highest 4% below ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
| Benton and Freedom 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% |
19.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom and Benton 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% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Freedom and Benton 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% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$61,437±$5kLowest 18% below ME |
$64,861±$12kHighest 13% below ME |
| Freedom 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±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$176,700±$23kLowest 40% below ME |
$190,600±$69k 36% below ME |
| Unity and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,328 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton 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% |
10%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Freedom 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 | — | #85 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | — |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.