Compare towns
Buckfield vs Mapleton vs Union vs Sumner
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 youngest population (median age 37.7).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,403 |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield and Union 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Union 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% |
15.4%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% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Union and Buckfield 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±$452Highest 4% above ME |
— |
| Union and Mapleton 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| 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% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Union 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 10 |
| 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.