What stands out worked out from the figures below

Columbia has the most affordable homes ($159k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Columbia	Union
People
Population	529Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.5% ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.9±6.4Highest 6% below ME	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME
	Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Union and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.9%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,667±$15kLowest 24% below ME	$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME
	Union and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME	$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$894±$162Lowest 22% below ME	$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME
	Union and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,226Lowest 60% below ME	$3,276Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 27% above ME	29 minLowest 20% above ME
Work from home	9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Union and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.