Compare towns
Unity vs Mapleton vs Sidney 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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Sidney has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Alexandria has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Sidney | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
1,884 |
4,790Highest |
1,983 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% 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%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6 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% |
33.5% 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% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Alexandria 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. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above 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. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$323,300±$27k about the U.S. average |
| Sidney and Alexandria 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. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,135±$273 20% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sidney 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. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$5,021 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±40.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alexandria and Unity 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below 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% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alexandria and Sidney 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 | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Unity School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 | — |
| High school 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.