Compare towns
Chapman vs Crystal 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
Chapman has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Crystal has the oldest population (median age 63.2).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Chapman | Crystal | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 388 |
247Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
63.2±8.4Highest 41% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Crystal and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±11.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
49%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±6.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$48,125±$13kLowest 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
$129,200±$60kLowest 56% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,563±$922Highest 37% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Crystal and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,850 39% below ME |
$943Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 6% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
0%±15.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.