Compare towns
Mapleton vs Augusta vs Jackson vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
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 | Mapleton | Augusta | Jackson | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
19,077Highest |
567Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
42.5±2.4Highest 5% below ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Augusta and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Augusta and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
28.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$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 | $191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
$629±$12 45% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Augusta and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Jackson 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— | — |
| 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.