Compare towns

Unity vs Calais

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%).
Calais has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
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.

MeasureUnityCalais
People
Population
1,858Lowest
3,097Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-1.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
27.5±2.2Lowest
39% below ME
43.8±5.1Highest
about the ME average
Kids under 18
14%±3.6Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.4%±4.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
Calais and Unity 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%
24.1%±5.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
25.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
30%±4.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
5.1%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,857±$6kLowest
16% below ME
$64,096±$10kHighest
14% below ME
Calais 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
$111,100±$36kLowest
63% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$873±$73Lowest
23% below ME
$1,010±$199Highest
11% below ME
Calais 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
$1,684Lowest
45% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.8%±13Lowest
ME: 48.4%
53.7%±20.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Calais and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
21.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
73.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
6 yrs newer than ME
1969Lowest
8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minHighest
14% below ME
16 minLowest
35% below ME
Work from home
15.8%±7.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
2.6%±2.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #48 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center Calais Public Schools
High school in town Ecology Learning Ctr Calais Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.4Highest
12.0Lowest
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.