Compare towns
Anson vs Dexter vs Mapleton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Dexter has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Anson | Dexter | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331 |
3,822Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Dexter and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Dexter 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 | — | #113 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | MSAD 46 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | Dexter Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.