Compare towns
Mapleton vs Beals vs Rome 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 most affordable homes ($192k median).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Beals | Rome | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
498Lowest |
1,215 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
48±15.6 7% above ME |
48.3±9.2Highest 8% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Rome and Beals 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% |
16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±6.3 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%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±9.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
39.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Beals and Rome 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 |
$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME |
$77,639±$25k 4% above 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 | $191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
$329,300±$36kHighest 11% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rome and Union 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 |
$907±$378 20% below ME |
$1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Rome 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 |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$1,829 40% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
54.2%±59.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Rome 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% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Beals and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Beals Public Schools | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.