Compare towns
Thorndike vs Jackson vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering ThorndikeKnox
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 37.7).
Unity has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Thorndike | Jackson | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,403 |
567Lowest |
1,858Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
37.7±5.8Highest 16% below ME |
27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
| Jackson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.2% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
| Thorndike and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
| Jackson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $836±$317 27% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$873±$73Highest 23% 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 | $2,537 16% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest 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 | 6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 46% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 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 |
| High school in town | Mt View High School | — | Ecology Learning Ctr |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
| 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.