Compare towns
Jackson vs Monroe vs Unity vs Thorndike
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Monroe has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
Unity has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
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 | Jackson | Monroe | Unity | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,001 |
1,858Highest |
1,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
43.5±7Highest about the ME average |
27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Monroe and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
| Monroe and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
| Jackson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,207Lowest 27% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.