Compare towns
Aurora vs Mapleton vs Union vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Aurora has the most kids (26.5% under 18).
Mapleton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Amherst has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Aurora | Mapleton | Union | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 132Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
424 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 47.2±17 5% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
50.9±9.9Highest 14% above ME |
| Amherst and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.5%±16.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±8.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Aurora and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±26.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Aurora and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
31.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±10.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Aurora and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$72,656±$12kLowest about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,400±$17kLowest 36% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$210,200±$38k 29% below ME |
| Union and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$342 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
— |
| Union and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,025 33% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,527Lowest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
50%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Amherst and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
6.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 36% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
27 minLowest 11% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Airline CSD | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.