Compare towns
Thorndike vs Mapleton vs Unity vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
Mapleton has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
Unity has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Somerville has the most expensive homes ($218k 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 | Thorndike | Mapleton | Unity | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,403 |
1,884Highest |
1,858 |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
33.5±11.3 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Somerville 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Somerville 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
| Mapleton and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME |
| Somerville 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,537Highest 16% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Unity 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 46% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | Mt View High School | None in town | 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.