Compare towns
Unity vs Palermo vs Albion vs Knox
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%).
Palermo has the highest household income ($89k).
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
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 | Palermo | Albion | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
1,473 |
2,204Highest |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
| Albion and Palermo 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% |
18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Palermo and Unity 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% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and Palermo 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% |
31.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
$62,361±$23kLowest 17% below ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
$230,900±$31k 22% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Palermo and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,235±$1k 8% above ME |
— | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Knox and Palermo 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 |
$2,506 17% below ME |
$1,987 35% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Albion 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% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79% ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo 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 12 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | — |
| 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.