Compare towns
Unity vs Carmel 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%).
Carmel has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
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 | Carmel | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,858 |
2,941Highest |
1,403Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Carmel 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% |
16.5%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Carmel 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% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$82,188±$22kHighest 10% above ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
| Carmel 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 |
$256,800±$37kHighest 13% below ME |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
| Carmel and Unity 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 |
$1,276±$187Highest 12% above ME |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
$2,662Highest 12% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel 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% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest 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 | — | #77 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | 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 |
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.