Compare towns
Unity vs Mapleton vs Mars Hill vs Jefferson
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 most homeowners (94.5%).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Mars Hill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Mars Hill | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
1,884Highest |
1,398 |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.4±3 12% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mars Hill and Mapleton 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% |
24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson 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% |
26% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill 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. |
$65,273±$9kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Unity 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±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Jefferson 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±$277 57% below U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
$867±$156 39% below U.S. |
| Unity and Jefferson 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. |
$1,843 41% below U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Mars Hill 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Unity School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 14 photos → |
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.



