-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 8BUmm2lslxN5uKMjjMI7iA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001188112-04-000100.txt : 20040123
<SEC-HEADER>0001188112-04-000100.hdr.sgml : 20040123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040123163019
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001188112-04-000100
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040123
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040123

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITIL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000755001
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931]
		IRS NUMBER:				020381573
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 LIBERTY LANE WEST
		CITY:			HAMPTON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03842
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6037736504

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 LIBERTY LANE WEST
		CITY:			HAMPTON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03842

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOULTON EBEN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241004

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08858
		FILM NUMBER:		04540986

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		105 NORTON STREET
		CITY:			NEWARK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14513
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3153317742

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		105 NORTON STREET
		CITY:			NEWARK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14513
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>t1553_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2004-01-23</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000755001</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITIL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241004</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOULTON EBEN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6 LIBERTY LANE WEST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMPTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03842</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock, no par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-23</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>1500</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>26.34</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>2368</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>/s/ Eben S. Moulton</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2004-01-23</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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