Compare towns
Thorndike vs Unity vs Wade
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 kids (49.8% under 18).
Unity has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wade has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Unity | Wade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,403 |
1,858Highest |
244Lowest |
| 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±2.2 39% below ME |
53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Wade 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% |
11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.2% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$157,100±$109kLowest 47% 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$1,655Lowest 45% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 46% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8Lowest 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.