Compare towns
Denmark vs Mapleton vs Smithfield vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Denmark has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Smithfield has the most people working from home (22%).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Denmark | Mapleton | Smithfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,054 |
1,884 |
856Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.4±5 21% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Smithfield and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest 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+ | 31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,167±$10kLowest 14% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Smithfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Denmark and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,259 26% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Union 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.