Compare towns
Anson vs Mapleton vs Union vs Embden
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Mapleton | Union | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331 |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
995Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Union and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.