What stands out worked out from the figures below

Machias 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.

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

Measure	Machias	Union
People
Population	2,020Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.8±9.6Lowest 9% below ME	41.6±5.3Highest 7% below ME
	Union and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	20.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%
	Union and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$34,375±$16kLowest 54% below ME	$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,300±$17kLowest 52% below ME	$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$692±$276Lowest 39% below ME	$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME
	Union and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,885Lowest 38% below ME	$3,276Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4%	24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Machias and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 33% below ME	29 minHighest 20% above ME
Work from home	12.7%±9.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Union and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Machias Public Schools	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	Machias Memorial High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4	—
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.