Compare towns
Mapleton vs Epping vs Mount Desert vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Epping | Mount Desert | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
7,430Highest |
1,671Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Desert and Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 14% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$92,813±$9k 15% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,341±$89 5% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Epping and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,512 13% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Mount Desert 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Epping School District | Mount Desert Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.