Compare towns
Palmyra vs Thomaston vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% under 18).
Thomaston has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Palmyra | Thomaston | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,209 |
2,769Highest |
1,858Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
| Unity and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$271,700±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
| Thomaston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Thomaston and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
73.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
21 minHighest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.5%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #99 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 13 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr |
| 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.