Compare towns
Unity vs Phillips vs Freedom 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%).
Phillips has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Freedom has the most homeowners (90.2%).
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 | Phillips | Freedom | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858Highest |
1,094 |
670Lowest |
825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
| Phillips and Knox 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% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom and Phillips 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% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Freedom and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
26%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$64,861±$12kHighest 13% below ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Freedom and Knox 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 |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$190,600±$69k 36% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Unity and Phillips 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 |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
— | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510 17% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$2,328 23% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Unity and Phillips 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips 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 58/MSAD 58 | — | — |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | 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.