Compare towns
Thorndike vs Unity vs Wayne
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,403 |
1,858Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.2% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne 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±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
| Wayne and Unity 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 |
$2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 46% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Wayne 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 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Mt View High School | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.4Highest |
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| 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.