Compare towns
Unity vs Smithfield vs Palmyra vs Freedom
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%).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% under 18).
Freedom has the most homeowners (90.2%).
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 | Smithfield | Palmyra | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
856 |
2,209Highest |
670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra and Freedom 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% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$190,600±$69k 36% below ME |
| Smithfield 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 |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
— |
| Smithfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510 17% below ME |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,328 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Palmyra 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.1% ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield 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 | — | — | — |
| 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 | 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.