Compare towns
Unity vs Mechanic Falls 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).
Mechanic Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Charlestown has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
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 | Mechanic Falls | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
3,134 |
4,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
39.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±8.5 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mechanic Falls 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% |
16.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Mechanic Falls 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±$12k 13% below U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% 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±$44k 19% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62kLowest 31% 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. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Charlestown 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. |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlestown and Mechanic Falls 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest 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 | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | RSU 16 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.