Compare towns
Hartland vs Mapleton vs Union vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartland has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Athens has the most homeowners (94.6%).
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 | Hartland | Mapleton | Union | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,602 |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.2±4.7Highest 19% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
| Hartland and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 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+ | 21.8%±2.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 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 | $46,141±$16kLowest 38% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% 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 | $139,200±$10kLowest 53% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$153,100±$33k 48% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $911±$96 20% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
| Union and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,658 45% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.2%±25.6 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 2.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1 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 19 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Athens Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.