Compare towns
Unity vs Belfast vs Thorndike vs Knox
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%).
Belfast has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
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 | Belfast | Thorndike | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
6,986Highest |
1,403 |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Thorndike and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $873±$73 23% below ME |
$962±$92 16% below ME |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510 17% below ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Belfast 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% |
16% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Unity 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 | — | #84 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 71 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Belfast Area High School | Mt View High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
11.3Lowest |
11.7 |
— |
| 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.