Compare towns

Unity vs Dayton 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 the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dayton has the most expensive homes ($398k median).
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.

MeasureUnityDaytonFreedom
People
Population
1,858
2,313Highest
670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+8.3%
ME: +2.6%
-1.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
27.5±2.2Lowest
39% below ME
42.1±5.5Highest
6% below ME
40.1±2.7
10% below ME
Dayton 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%
20.4%±4
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±4.8Highest
ME: 18.1%
Freedom and Dayton 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%
14.3%±3.2
ME: 22.4%
22.1%±2.9Highest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
27.6%Highest
ME: 36.2%
23.2%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
30%±4.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
5.1%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
0.3%±1.7Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,857±$6kLowest
16% below ME
$113,750±$24kHighest
52% above ME
$64,861±$12k
13% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$206,900±$28k
30% below ME
$398,200±$34kHighest
34% above ME
$190,600±$69kLowest
36% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$873±$73Lowest
23% below ME
$1,215±$867Highest
7% above ME
—
Dayton and Unity 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
$3,872Highest
28% above ME
$2,328Lowest
23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.8%±13Highest
ME: 48.4%
38%±19.6
ME: 48.4%
21.1%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Unity and Dayton 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%
3.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
11.5%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
89.7%
ME: 74.3%
90.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
6 yrs newer than ME
1990Highest
13 yrs newer than ME
1985
8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
14% below ME
31 min
26% above ME
32 minHighest
29% above ME
Work from home
15.8%±7.6
ME: 15.9%
16.3%±3.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
8.4%±3.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Dayton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center Dayton Public Schools —
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.