Compare towns
Danforth vs Mapleton vs Union vs Island Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Danforth | Mapleton | Union | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
50.7±10.6 13% above ME |
| Danforth and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Island Falls and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 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 | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% 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 | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29 45% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$636±$124 44% below ME |
| Union and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,720 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Danforth and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 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 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.