Compare towns
Knox vs Union vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Knox has the most renters (19.9% rent).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Knox | Union | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 825 |
2,663Highest |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
41.9±6.4Highest 6% below ME |
| Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$56,667±$15kLowest 24% below ME |
| Union and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,600±$26k 46% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$894±$162Lowest 22% below ME |
| Knox and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610 47% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Columbia and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Knox 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.