Compare towns
Mapleton vs Jackson vs Solon 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Solon has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
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 | Jackson | Solon | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
567Lowest |
963 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Solon 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Solon 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$69,205±$20kLowest 7% 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Jackson 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 |
$629±$12 45% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Solon 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 |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1993Highest 16 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 |
35 min 41% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | 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.