Compare towns
Unity vs Kennebunk vs Cornish 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%).
Kennebunk has the most expensive homes ($488k median).
Cornish has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Kennebunk | Cornish | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
11,820Highest |
1,803 |
1,403Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
39±8.5 13% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3 ME: 18.1% |
18.2%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Cornish 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%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$69,038±$4k 8% below ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$274,200±$84k 8% below ME |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,425±$290Highest 25% above ME |
$1,196±$148 5% above ME |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
| Kennebunk and Cornish 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 |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$2,309Lowest 24% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9 ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Cornish 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% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
6.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.1% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
8.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Kennebunk 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 | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 21 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Kennebunk High School | — | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.