Compare towns
Mapleton vs Dedham vs Orland 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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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.
| Measure | Mapleton | Dedham | Orland | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,656Lowest |
1,915 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Dedham 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% |
23.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Dedham 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% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Orland 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±$25k 23% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$69,348±$29kLowest 7% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Dedham 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 35% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Dedham and Union 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 |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Orland 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% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Orland 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 | Dedham 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.