Compare towns
Unity vs Milbridge vs Freedom vs Somerville
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).
Milbridge has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% 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 | Milbridge | Freedom | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858Highest |
1,222 |
670Lowest |
837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
50.3±6.2Highest 12% above ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
33.5±11.3 25% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Milbridge 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% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$60,536±$16kLowest 19% below ME |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
| Somerville 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 |
$240,400±$31kHighest 19% below ME |
$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
| Milbridge and Somerville 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 |
$619±$186Lowest 46% below ME |
— | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,022Lowest 33% below ME |
$2,328 23% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Milbridge 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% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.1% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge 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 37/MSAD 37 | — | RSU 12 |
| 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.