Compare towns
Unity vs Hancock vs Troy 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%).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($277k 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 | Hancock | Troy | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
2,518Highest |
984Lowest |
1,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
56.3±6.4Highest 26% above ME |
49.3±13.6 10% above ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Hancock and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Troy 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% |
30.2%±7Highest ME: 22.4% |
27%±4.6 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hancock and Troy 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% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$72,285±$5k 3% below ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
| Thorndike and Hancock 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 |
$276,800±$51kHighest 7% below ME |
$213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
| Hancock and Troy 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 |
$1,171±$65 about the ME average |
$1,255±$211Highest 10% above ME |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
| Troy and Hancock 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 |
$1,869 38% below ME |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,537Highest 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
42%±15.5 ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Troy and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.2% ME: 10.7% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.1% ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
36 min 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Troy 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 | — | #117 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Hancock Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | 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.