Compare towns
Unity vs Waterville vs Thorndike vs Knox
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%).
Waterville has the most renters (51.2% rent).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).
Knox has the oldest population (median age 41.1).
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 | Waterville | Thorndike | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
17,077Highest |
1,403 |
825Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.7% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
35.5±2.5 21% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
41.1±7.9Highest 8% below ME |
| Knox and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Waterville and Knox 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% |
30.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Thorndike and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$184,600±$21k 38% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Unity and Thorndike 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 |
$978±$72 14% below ME |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510 17% below ME |
$2,755Highest 9% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Unity 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% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
16.6%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Waterville 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 | — | #105 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Waterville Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Waterville Senior High School | Mt View High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
12.8Highest |
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.