Compare towns
Unity vs Mapleton vs Cherryfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% 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.
| Measure | Unity | Mapleton | Cherryfield | Palmyra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
1,884 |
809Lowest |
2,209Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra and Mapleton 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% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$60,543±$17k 19% 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±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
| Unity and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$733±$119 36% below ME |
| Unity and Palmyra 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Palmyra 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% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield 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 79/MSAD 01 | Cherryfield Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | 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.