Compare towns
Unity vs Peru 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 most people working from home (15.8%).
Peru has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Peru | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,858Highest |
1,501 |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
33.5±11.3 25% below ME |
| Peru and Somerville 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% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Peru 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% |
21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
| Somerville and Peru 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 |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME |
| Somerville 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 |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Unity 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% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest 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 |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Peru 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 56 | 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 |
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.