What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Caribou has the oldest population (median age 51.3).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Unity	Caribou
People
Population	1,858Lowest	7,382Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME	51.3±1.7Highest 15% above ME
Kids under 18	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.2%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Caribou 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%	27.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	28.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%	2.4%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME	$53,709±$9kLowest 28% below ME
	Unity and Caribou 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	$134,100±$31kLowest 55% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$873±$73Highest 23% below ME	$757±$143Lowest 34% below ME
	Unity and Caribou 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	$1,680Lowest 45% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4%	45.3%±10.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Caribou 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%	15.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3% ME: 74.3%	72.3% ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 14% below ME	15 minLowest 40% below ME
Work from home	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%	12.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Unity and Caribou 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	—	#59 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center	RSU 39
High school in town	Ecology Learning Ctr	Caribou High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	14.2Highest
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.