Compare towns
Lincoln vs Mapleton vs Union vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Lee has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Lincoln | Mapleton | Union | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,890Highest |
1,884 |
2,663 |
925Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±3.4Highest 17% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
| Lincoln and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9 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+ | 32.1%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Lincoln and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,089±$15k 25% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% 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 | $141,500±$40kLowest 52% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$174,500±$25k 41% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $658±$28 42% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,860 39% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±34.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Lee 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 | #94 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 30/MSAD 30 |
| High school in town | Mattanawcook Academy | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.