Compare towns
Unity vs Mapleton vs Hampden 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hampden has the most expensive homes ($301k median).
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 | Mapleton | Hampden | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
1,884 |
7,896Highest |
1,403Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Hampden 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% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Hampden 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
| Hampden and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $873±$73 23% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Hampden 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 | — | — | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 22 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | Hampden Academy | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | 14.8Highest |
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.