Compare towns
Thorndike vs Waterville vs Temple
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%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Temple has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Waterville | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,403 |
17,077Highest |
824Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
35.5±2.5Highest 21% below ME |
34±14 24% below ME |
| Waterville and Temple 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.8%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Temple 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% |
18.3%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±6.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Waterville and Temple 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% |
30.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
$56,087±$2k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$210,200±$79kHighest 29% below ME |
| Temple 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 |
$978±$72 14% below ME |
$1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME |
| Temple and Waterville 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 |
$2,755Highest 9% below ME |
$2,367Lowest 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
73.3%±70.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Temple and Waterville 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% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1966 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 46% above ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±8.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #105 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Waterville Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Mt View High School | Waterville Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.