Compare towns
Washington vs Unity vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
Unity has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Washington | Unity | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
1,858Highest |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
33.5±11.3 25% below ME |
| Washington and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
| Somerville and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME |
| Somerville and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.