The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 04980 sells for about $275,000, or $162 per square foot.
Prices are up +3.5% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 58 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,250 a month.
ZIP 04980
The housing market in Unity remains stable with limited inventory and modest price growth. Demand is driven by local employment and the appeal of rural living, though sales volume remains low due to the small size of the community.
This ZIP is well-suited for families and individuals seeking a rural lifestyle, proximity to higher education, and a lower cost of living compared to coastal Maine.
Median prices moved up 3.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 58 days on market with 4.2 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.1% · poverty 11.5% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.7%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 04980, Waldo County, Maine
Crime rates in Unity are generally low and consistent with rural Waldo County, with property crime being the primary concern.
The area is served by Regional School Unit 3, which provides public education for the town and surrounding communities.
The area faces standard New England climate risks, including winter storm exposure and localized flood risks near the Sebasticook River.
Economic momentum is driven by the presence of Unity Environmental University and local agricultural and forestry industries.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Maine) — Maine Resident Homestead Property Tax Exemption: Provides a reduction in the valuation of the homestead for property tax purposes. The exemption amount is set by state statute (currently $25,000 of the just value of the property). The formula is: (Just Value - Homestead Exemption) * Local Tax Rate = Tax Due.
Commutes are primarily car-dependent, with residents traveling to nearby employment hubs like Waterville or Belfast via state routes.
The area features access to Unity Pond, local trail networks, and the Unity Raceway, providing outdoor and community-focused recreation.
The rental market is limited in depth, with low vacancy pressure and a mix of long-term housing and student-focused rentals.
The economy is anchored by Unity Environmental University, local agriculture, and small-scale manufacturing.
Transportation is dominated by private vehicle use on state highways; public transit options are minimal.
Development is focused on sustainable infrastructure and small-scale residential growth consistent with rural zoning.
The Waldo County assessment regime relies on town-level tax assessors following state-mandated valuation guidelines.
Parcels are subject to RSU 3 school district taxes and standard municipal utility assessments.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by rural fire response times and regional winter weather risk profiles.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov for ZCTA 04980.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
A large lake offering fishing, boating, and recreational access.
A local motorsports venue hosting various racing events.
Extensive walking and hiking trails maintained by the local university.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.