Compare towns
Unity vs Mapleton vs New Gloucester vs Charlestown
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 affordable homes ($192k median).
New Gloucester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | New Gloucester | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
1,884 |
5,766Highest |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Charlestown 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Charlestown 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±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| New Gloucester and Mapleton 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. |
$357,100±$29kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,150±$249 19% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and New Gloucester 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. |
$3,417 10% above U.S. |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlestown and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Gloucester and Mapleton 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 | — | — | #65 of 133 in ME | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.