The Town FilesThorndike, Maine
Town in Waldo County · population 774 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $205,600
- Household income
- $78,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 80 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 19.3
Thorndike is a town of 774 people in Waldo County, Maine. The median home is worth $205,600, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Maine towns, better for cycling than 90% of Maine towns, better transit than 88% of Maine towns.
How Thorndike ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Thorndike is worth $205,600, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $78,438, which is more affordable than 80% of Maine towns. Median rent is $836 a month. 87.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thorndike | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,600 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $836 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $78,438 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 87.2% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Thorndike
| People | Thorndike | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 19.3 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.7% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 49.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.2% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 44.7% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 35.8 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.9% | 90.0% |
Weather in Thorndike
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 80.3 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Thorndike since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 2, 2011.
Severe weather in Waldo County since 1996
Waldo County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4754: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4719: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4696: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Waldo County
Waldo County had 11,273 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,674 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Thorndike itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Thorndike
3 public schools with 739 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt View High School | 9-12 | 291 | 11.6 |
| Mt View Middle School | 6-8 | 235 | 11.2 |
| Mt View Elementary School | K-5 | 213 | 9.7 |
Towns near Thorndike
- Jackson, ME5.0 mi · 610 people · home $231,500
- Knox, ME5.3 mi · 811 people · home $159,600
- Troy, ME5.6 mi · 1,018 people · home $213,000
- Unity, ME6.4 mi · 2,292 people · home $206,900
- Brooks, ME6.9 mi · 1,010 people · home $196,700
- Dixmont, ME8.5 mi · 1,211 people · home $190,700
- Freedom, ME8.8 mi · 711 people · home $190,600
- Monroe, ME8.8 mi · 931 people · home $220,300
Thorndike questions
Is Thorndike, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thorndike scores better for retirees than 22% of Maine towns and quieter than 6%. 11.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 19.3).
How much does a house cost in Thorndike?
The median owner-occupied home in Thorndike is valued at $205,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,438, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $836 a month.
What is the weather like in Thorndike?
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 80.3 inches of snow.
Does Thorndike get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Thorndike in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)