Compare towns
Mapleton vs Augusta vs Salem vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Augusta has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Mapleton | Augusta | Salem | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
19,077 |
30,964Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Salem and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18k 40% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$919±$79 35% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Salem and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,465 21% below U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Union 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Salem School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.