Compare towns

Unity vs Mapleton vs Brooks vs Albion

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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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.

MeasureUnityMapletonBrooksAlbion
People
Population
1,858
1,884
1,208Lowest
2,204Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
-6.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-1.7%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
27.5±2.2Lowest
39% below ME
41.8±6
7% below ME
45.9±6.6
about the ME average
52.9±7.5Highest
18% above ME
Albion and Brooks 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%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4.2
ME: 18.1%
12.5%±4.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Mapleton and Brooks 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%
18.3%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
17%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
26.8%±4.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Highest
ME: 36.2%
27.5%
ME: 36.2%
23.4%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
30%±4.3Highest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
6.8%±3.5
ME: 5.8%
2.2%±2.1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,857±$6k
16% below ME
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$59,130±$10kLowest
21% below ME
$62,361±$23k
17% below ME
Mapleton 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
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$196,700±$33k
34% below ME
$230,900±$31kHighest
22% below ME
Albion 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
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,116±$112Highest
about the ME average
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,510Highest
17% below ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$2,096
31% below ME
$1,987
35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.8%±13
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
18%±17.3
ME: 48.4%
46.2%±23.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
Albion and Unity 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%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
18.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.6%
ME: 74.3%
79%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
6 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
14% below ME
28 min
13% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
34 minHighest
36% above ME
Work from home
15.8%±7.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
14.5%±2.9
ME: 15.9%
15.7%±5.5
ME: 15.9%
Unity and Albion 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 79/MSAD 01 RSU 03/MSAD 03 RSU 49/MSAD 49
High school in town Ecology Learning Ctr None in town None in town 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.