Compare towns
Buckfield vs Mapleton vs Union vs Brownfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckfield has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Brownfield has the most expensive homes ($288k median).
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 | Buckfield | Mapleton | Union | Brownfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,403 |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
1,830Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
39.9±6.8 11% below ME |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.7%±7.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brownfield and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±0.9Lowest 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 | $77,917±$41k 4% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$60,889±$5kLowest 19% 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 | $227,700±$18k 23% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$287,500±$36kHighest 3% below ME |
| Brownfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
| Brownfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,860 6% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,976 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
61.8%±43.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brownfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
44 minHighest 80% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
— | — | — |
| 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.