Compare towns
Thorndike vs Phillips vs Unity vs Sherman
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%).
Phillips has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Sherman has the most affordable homes ($115k 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 | Phillips | Unity | Sherman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,403 |
1,094 |
1,858Highest |
947Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
33.4±8.6 25% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
33.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Sherman 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% |
21.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Phillips and Sherman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
13.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±0.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$49,444±$7k 34% below ME |
| Thorndike and Unity 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 |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$115,200±$14kLowest 61% below ME |
| Unity and Thorndike 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 |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$672±$329 41% 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 |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$1,328Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
46.7%±77.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sherman 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% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
37.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 46% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
22 min 11% below ME |
| Work from home | 44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
28.2%±12.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Sherman 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 58/MSAD 58 | 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.