Compare towns
Madison vs Mapleton vs Starks vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Madison | Mapleton | Starks | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,884 |
556Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Madison and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 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+ | 25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% 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 | $187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983 35% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.