Compare towns
Lowell vs Mount Chase vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Mount Chase has the most affordable homes ($116k median).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Lowell | Mount Chase | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 378 |
280Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±8.6Highest 24% above ME |
49.9±10.9 11% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Lowell and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±10.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.2%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
28.9%±6.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lowell and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±5.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$41,711±$7kLowest 44% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,700±$30k 29% below ME |
$115,700±$15kLowest 61% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,281±$1kHighest 12% above ME |
$1,179±$452Lowest 4% above ME |
| Mount Chase and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,548 49% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
28.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% ME: 10.7% |
30.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 24% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±12.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Chase 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 | 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.