Compare towns
Unity vs Jay 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%).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 39.5).
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 | Jay | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,858 |
4,657Highest |
1,403Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
39.5±5.1Highest 12% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Jay 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
| Thorndike and Jay 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 |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% 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±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
| Unity and Thorndike 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 |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,537Highest 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 73 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Spruce Mountain High School | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.7Highest |
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.