Compare towns
Unity vs Milo vs Chesterville 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%).
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Palmyra has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Milo | Chesterville | Palmyra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
2,165 |
1,397Lowest |
2,209Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43.9±7Highest about the ME average |
37.8±4 16% below ME |
37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
| Milo and Chesterville 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% |
16.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Palmyra 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% |
18.2%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3 ME: 22.4% |
16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Milo 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$56,875±$9kLowest 24% below ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
$60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
| Unity and Chesterville 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 |
$97,100±$27kLowest 67% below ME |
$214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME |
$154,900±$34k 48% below ME |
| Chesterville 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 |
$879±$400 23% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
| Chesterville and Milo 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 |
$1,450Lowest 52% below ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
$1,614 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Milo 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% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
67.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Palmyra 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 41/MSAD 41 | — | — |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— | — |
| 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.