Compare towns
Unity vs Patten vs Thorndike vs Albion
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%).
Patten has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).
Albion has the most expensive homes ($231k 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 | Patten | Thorndike | Albion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
1,154Lowest |
1,403 |
2,204Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-13% ME: +2.6% |
-1.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
52.9±7.5 18% above ME |
| Patten and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
25.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$62,361±$23k 17% below ME |
| Thorndike and Unity 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 |
$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME |
| Albion and Unity 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 |
$389±$99Lowest 66% 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 |
$1,199Lowest 61% below ME |
$2,537Highest 16% below ME |
$1,987 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Patten and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% ME: 10.7% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.5% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 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 |
34 min 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Patten 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 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — | 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.