Compare towns
Jay vs Mapleton vs Peru vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
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 | Jay | Mapleton | Peru | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
1,884 |
1,501Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Peru and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 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+ | 19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above 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 | $168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Jay and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Mapleton 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 56 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.