Compare towns
Mapleton vs Ellsworth vs Newcastle 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).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Newcastle has the most expensive homes ($398k median).
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 | Ellsworth | Newcastle | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
8,657Highest |
1,913 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
43±2.4 4% below ME |
49.4±7Highest 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Newcastle and Ellsworth 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% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±3.4Lowest 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% |
22.1%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±1.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Newcastle and Ellsworth 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% |
39.3% ME: 36.2% |
45.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth 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 |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% above ME |
$89,868±$33k 20% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Newcastle 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 |
$242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
$398,000±$41kHighest 34% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$1,363±$81Highest 20% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Newcastle 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 |
$3,262 7% above ME |
$4,256Highest 40% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
5.8%±16.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
17 minLowest 30% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Newcastle 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 | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Ellsworth Public Schools | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.