Compare towns
Knox vs Ogunquit 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
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Unity has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% 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 | Knox | Ogunquit | Unity | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 825Lowest |
1,379 |
1,858Highest |
1,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
— | $873±$73 23% below ME |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school 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.