Compare towns
Mapleton vs Mars Hill vs Washburn 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).
Mars Hill has the most renters (29.4% rent).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Mars Hill | Washburn | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,398 |
1,355Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Washburn and Mars Hill 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% |
22.9%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mars Hill 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% |
24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Mars Hill 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% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill 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 |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% 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 |
$163,600±$23k 45% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$488±$96 57% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Mapleton 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 |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Washburn and Mars Hill 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% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 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 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0Lowest |
12.0Highest |
— |
| 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.