What stands out worked out from the figures below

Islesboro has the shortest commute (8 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Islesboro	Union
People
Population	636Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	57±8.4Highest 27% above ME	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME
Kids under 18	11.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	40.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Union and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,438±$44kHighest 18% above ME	$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME
	Islesboro and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,800±$140kHighest about the ME average	$267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME
	Islesboro and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$938±$252Lowest 18% below ME	$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME
	Union and Islesboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,300Highest 42% above ME	$3,276Lowest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.8%±85.4Highest ME: 48.4%	24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Islesboro and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	8 minLowest 69% below ME	29 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	20.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9%	15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Islesboro and Union 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

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.