Compare towns
Mapleton vs Exeter vs Athens 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).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
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 | Exeter | Athens | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,093 |
791Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.6% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
47.7±7.2 6% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Exeter and Athens 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±5 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Athens 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 |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Exeter 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Athens 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.