Compare towns
Mapleton vs Berwick vs Beals 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).
Berwick has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Berwick | Beals | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,998 |
498Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.1% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
42.6±3.6 5% below ME |
48±15.6Highest 7% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Beals and Berwick 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% |
22.5%±12.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Berwick 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% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35.4% ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Beals and Mapleton 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 |
$81,406±$39k 9% above ME |
$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Berwick 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 |
$323,300±$36kHighest 9% above ME |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Berwick 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 |
$1,041±$901 9% below ME |
$907±$378 20% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Berwick 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 |
$3,806Highest 25% above ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
40.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
73%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.7%±7.8 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9Highest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #101 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| 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.