Compare towns
Unity vs Saco 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 the shortest commute (21 min average).
Saco has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Saco | Thorndike | Albion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
20,819Highest |
1,403Lowest |
2,204 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
| Albion and Saco 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% |
16.7%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
$62,361±$23kLowest 17% below ME |
| Saco 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 |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
$230,900±$31k 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
— |
| Saco and Unity 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 |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
$1,987Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Saco 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.8% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer 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 |
24 min 3% below ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
34 min 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Saco 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Saco Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| 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 | 6 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.