Compare towns
Unity vs Mapleton vs Gardiner vs Alexandria
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Gardiner has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Alexandria has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Mapleton | Gardiner | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
1,884 |
6,088Highest |
1,983 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42±3.6 8% above U.S. |
52.6±5 35% above U.S. |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,782±$10kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$89,194±$8k 10% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$221,600±$19k 33% below U.S. |
$323,300±$27kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Alexandria and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,113±$191 21% below U.S. |
$1,135±$273 20% below U.S. |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,742 12% below U.S. |
$5,021 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±13.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±40.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alexandria and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alexandria and Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #36 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Unity School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gardiner Area High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.