Compare towns
Unity vs Mapleton vs Thorndike vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mapleton has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
Somerville has the most expensive homes ($218k median).
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 | Thorndike | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
1,884Highest |
1,403 |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
33.5±11.3 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Somerville 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% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Somerville 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% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and Somerville 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
| Mapleton and Thorndike 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 |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME |
| Somerville 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,537Highest 16% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Unity 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | Mt View High School | None in town |
| 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.