Compare towns
Thorndike vs Monroe vs Unity vs Knox
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%).
Monroe has the most expensive homes ($220k median).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k 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 | Monroe | Unity | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,403 |
1,001 |
1,858Highest |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
43.5±7Highest about the ME average |
27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
| Monroe and Knox 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% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Knox 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% |
29.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below 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 | $205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Monroe and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,537Highest 16% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest 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 | 6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 46% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | Mt View High School | None in town | 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 | 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.