Compare towns
Unity vs Lubec 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%).
Lubec has the oldest population (median age 59.3).
Cornish has the most expensive homes ($274k 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 | Lubec | Cornish | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858Highest |
1,346Lowest |
1,803 |
1,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9% ME: +2.6% |
+7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
59.3±4.5Highest 32% above ME |
39±8.5 13% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±4.2 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% |
41.2%±3.4Highest 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% |
32.6%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% |
6.2%±4.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$52,375±$11kLowest 30% below ME |
$69,038±$4k 8% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
| Thorndike and Cornish 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 |
$188,700±$26kLowest 36% below ME |
$274,200±$84kHighest 8% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
| Cornish 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 |
$550±$204Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,196±$148Highest 5% above ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510 17% below ME |
$2,039Lowest 33% below ME |
$2,309 24% below ME |
$2,537Highest 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
40.6%±25.6 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% |
14.7% ME: 10.7% |
6.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.1% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
31 min 27% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
26.3%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Lubec are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 85/MSAD 19 | — | 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.