What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).

Mechanic Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Unity	Mechanic Falls
People
Population	1,375Lowest	3,134Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.	39.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mechanic Falls and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$69,914±$12kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Unity and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S.	$270,900±$44kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Unity and Mechanic Falls 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.	$1,076±$208Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Unity and Mechanic Falls 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.	$2,993Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mechanic Falls 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%	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Unity and Mechanic Falls 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	—	#122 of 133 in ME
School district	Unity School District	RSU 16
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.