Compare towns
Unity vs Madison vs Freedom vs Knox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
Freedom has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k 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 | Madison | Freedom | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
4,782Highest |
670Lowest |
825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
| Madison and Knox 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% |
14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom and Madison 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% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Freedom 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% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
$64,861±$12kHighest 13% below ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Freedom and Knox 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 |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$190,600±$69k 36% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Unity and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$906±$247 20% below ME |
— | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$2,328 23% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Unity and Madison 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% ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison 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 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — | — |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Madison Jr/Sr High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.