Compare towns
Unity vs Belgrade vs Freedom vs Thorndike
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%).
Belgrade has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).
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 | Belgrade | Freedom | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
3,351Highest |
670Lowest |
1,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Belgrade and Freedom 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% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Belgrade 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% |
23.9%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Belgrade and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.2% ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$88,338±$13kHighest 18% above ME |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
| Belgrade 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±$28k 30% below ME |
$312,200±$44kHighest 5% above ME |
$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
— | $836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
| Unity and Belgrade 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 |
$2,859Highest 6% below ME |
$2,328Lowest 23% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100 ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 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 | 17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Belgrade 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 18 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | — | 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.