What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the most people working from home (15.8%).

Dixfield has the oldest population (median age 49.9).

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	Dixfield
People
Population	1,858Lowest	2,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME
Kids under 18	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dixfield 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%	21.1%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME	$70,613±$9kHighest 6% below ME
	Dixfield 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	$160,900±$24kLowest 46% below ME
	Unity and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$873±$73Highest 23% below ME	$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME
	Unity and Dixfield 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	$2,324Lowest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4%	48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Dixfield 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%	14%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.5%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 minLowest 14% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%	5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center	RSU 56
High school in town	Ecology Learning Ctr	Dirigo High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	12.6Highest
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.