Compare towns
Unity vs Solon vs Albion vs Palmyra
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%).
Solon has the highest household income ($69k).
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% 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 | Solon | Albion | Palmyra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
963Lowest |
2,204 |
2,209Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
| Albion and Solon 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% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and Solon 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% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
| Solon and Unity 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 |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
| Albion 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 |
$915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
— | $733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
| Solon and Unity 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 |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$1,987 35% below ME |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Palmyra 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% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
34 min 36% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Albion 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 74/MSAD 74 | 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.