What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thorndike	Unity
People
Population	1,403Lowest	1,858Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME	27.5±2.2Highest 39% below ME
	Unity and Thorndike 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%	14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%	11.8%±3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Unity and Thorndike 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%	22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%	30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME	$62,857±$6kLowest 16% 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±$88kLowest 31% below ME	$206,900±$28kHighest 30% 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±$317Lowest 27% 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	$2,537Highest 16% below ME	$2,510Lowest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36%±62.5Lowest 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%	17.3%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 46% above ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%	15.8%±7.6Lowest 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

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.