Compare towns

Mapleton vs Bucksport 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).
Bucksport has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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.

MeasureMapletonBucksportUnion
People
Population
1,884Lowest
3,105Highest
2,663
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-1.8%
ME: +2.6%
+5.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.8±6
7% below ME
53.6±9.8Highest
20% above ME
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% below ME
Bucksport 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%
15.9%±6.7Lowest
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%
33.5%±10.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
21.4%±3.1
ME: 22.4%
Bucksport 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%
29.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.1%±1.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
Mapleton and Union 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
$62,011±$4kLowest
17% 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
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$214,300±$71k
28% below ME
$267,600±$42kHighest
10% below ME
Union and Bucksport 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
$855±$77
25% below ME
$1,179±$452Highest
4% above ME
Union and Bucksport 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
$1,801
41% below ME
$3,276Highest
8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
58%±54Highest
ME: 48.4%
24.6%±19.8
ME: 48.4%
Bucksport 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%
6.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
10.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
68.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
85.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
same as ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1979Highest
2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
13% above ME
25 minLowest
about the ME average
29 minHighest
20% above ME
Work from home
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
9.7%±8.3Lowest
ME: 15.9%
15.9%±5.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
Union and Mapleton 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 — #68 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 79/MSAD 01 — RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.