Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Lamoine 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
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
Lamoine has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Ellsworth | Lamoine | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,782Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±2.4 4% below ME |
49.6±7.3Highest 11% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Lamoine and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
15%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 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+ | 22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
25.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Lamoine and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
$88,542±$15k 18% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Lamoine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
$324,800±$43kHighest 10% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Lamoine and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$1,174±$158 3% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Lamoine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 7% above ME |
$2,303 24% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
23.3%±16.4 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 9.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
22 minLowest 11% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Lamoine and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | Lamoine Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.