Compare towns
Industry vs Union vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Industry has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
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 | Industry | Union | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 988 |
2,663Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.6±10.7Lowest 9% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
| Starks and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Industry and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,056±$19kLowest 16% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Union and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,600±$31k 31% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Union and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,049±$137Lowest 8% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
| Union and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,793 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.9%±38.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Industry and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 67% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Industry 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 | 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.