What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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.

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

Measure	Unity	Hampden
People
Population	1,858Lowest	7,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+6.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME	41±2.9Highest 8% below ME
Kids under 18	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4%	17.2%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Hampden and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME	$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME	$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME	$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,510Lowest 17% below ME	$3,694Highest 22% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4%	22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Unity and Hampden 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%	7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 14% below ME	23 minHighest 7% below ME
Work from home	15.8%±7.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Hampden and Unity 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	—	#6 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center	RSU 22
High school in town	Ecology Learning Ctr	Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	14.8Highest
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.