Compare towns
Unity vs Anson vs Thorndike vs Palmyra
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
Palmyra has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Unity | Anson | Thorndike | Palmyra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
680Lowest |
1,403 |
2,209Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.6% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
43.3±15.2Highest 3% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
| Anson and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6 ME: 22.4% |
16.7%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Palmyra and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% ME: 36.2% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
| Anson and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$154,900±$34k 48% 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 | $873±$73 23% below ME |
$914±$247Highest 20% below ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
| Anson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510 17% below ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$2,537Highest 16% below ME |
$1,614 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
31.8%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Palmyra and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
60.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1 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 · Ecology Learning Center | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — | Mt View High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.