Compare towns
Unity vs Mars Hill vs Troy vs Freedom
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%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Freedom has the most homeowners (90.2%).
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 | Mars Hill | Troy | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858Highest |
1,398 |
984 |
670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
49.3±13.6Highest 10% above ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
| Troy and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Freedom 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% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Troy and Mars Hill 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% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$65,273±$9kHighest 13% below ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Freedom 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 |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$213,000±$31kHighest 28% below ME |
$190,600±$69k 36% below ME |
| Troy 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 |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,255±$211Highest 10% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,328 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Troy 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% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Troy 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 42/MSAD 42 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
8.0Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.