Compare towns
Unity vs Exeter vs Somerville vs Livermore Falls
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 most people working from home (15.8%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Livermore Falls has the most affordable homes ($148k median).
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 | Exeter | Somerville | Livermore Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
1,093 |
837Lowest |
3,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
33.5±11.3 25% below ME |
36.7±11.8 18% below ME |
| Exeter and Livermore Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.9%±8.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Livermore Falls 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% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Livermore Falls 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$45,843±$6kLowest 39% below ME |
| Exeter and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME |
$147,500±$34kLowest 50% below ME |
| Somerville and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $873±$73 23% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$856±$126Lowest 25% below ME |
| Somerville and Exeter 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 |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
$1,399Lowest 54% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.7%±16 ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Livermore Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
29%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
66%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.2%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Exeter 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 | — | RSU 12 | — |
| 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 | 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.