Compare towns
Unity vs Sidney vs Chapman 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
Sidney has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
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 | Sidney | Chapman | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
4,790Highest |
388Lowest |
1,013 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman and Jefferson 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. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Chapman and Unity 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. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Jefferson 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. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
— | $867±$156Lowest 39% 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. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Jefferson 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 18 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.