Compare towns
Unity vs Smithfield 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).
Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
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 | Smithfield | Thorndike | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858Highest |
856 |
1,403 |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
33.5±11.3 25% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%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% |
3%±1.9 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 |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
| Smithfield 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 |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
| Smithfield and Somerville 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 |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Somerville and Smithfield 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 |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
$2,505Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Lowest 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Smithfield 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 12 |
| 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.