Compare towns
Unity vs Wayne vs Winthrop vs Thorndike
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%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Winthrop has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Winthrop | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,858 |
1,101Lowest |
6,191Highest |
1,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2 39% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Winthrop 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$892±$319 22% below ME |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7 ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Wayne 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 | — | — | #12 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | Winthrop High School | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
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.