What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the most people working from home (15.8%).

Perham has the oldest population (median age 53).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Unity	Perham
People
Population	1,858Highest	326Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME	53±12.9Highest 18% above ME
Kids under 18	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.6%±8.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Perham 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%	24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	18.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME	$62,500±$22kLowest 16% below ME
	Unity and Perham 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	$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$873±$73 23% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,510Highest 17% below ME	$1,641Lowest 46% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Unity and Perham 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%	2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 14% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Unity and Perham 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	—
High school in town	Ecology Learning Ctr	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.