Compare towns
Unity vs Madison vs Somerville vs Palmyra
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 youngest population (median age 27.5).
Madison has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Somerville has the highest household income ($71k).
Palmyra has the most affordable homes ($155k 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 | Somerville | Palmyra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
4,782Highest |
837Lowest |
2,209 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
33.5±11.3 25% below ME |
37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7 ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra and Somerville 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% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Palmyra 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% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
| Somerville 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±$28k 30% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% 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 |
$906±$247 20% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Palmyra 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% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1 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 | RSU 12 | — |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | — |
| 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.