Compare towns
Unity vs Mechanic Falls 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 highest household income ($88k).
Mechanic Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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 | Mechanic Falls | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375 |
3,134Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
39.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jefferson 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. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% 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±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$270,900±$44kLowest 19% 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. |
$1,076±$208 24% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% 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. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Unity 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 | 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.