Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Thorndike vs Unity vs Milbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Milbridge has the most expensive homes ($240k median).
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 | Cherryfield | Thorndike | Unity | Milbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 809Lowest |
1,403 |
1,858Highest |
1,222 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
50.3±6.2 12% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$60,536±$16k 19% below ME |
| Thorndike and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,800±$53kLowest 34% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$240,400±$31kHighest 19% below ME |
| Milbridge and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
$873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$619±$186 46% below ME |
| Unity and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,537Highest 16% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,022 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt View High School | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.