Compare towns
Mapleton vs Madison vs Union vs Washburn
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).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Madison | Union | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
4,782Highest |
2,663 |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
| Madison and Washburn 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% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 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% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Washburn 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% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Madison 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 |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below 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 |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$906±$247 20% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Union and Madison 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 |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washburn and Madison 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% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
12.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison 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 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.