Compare towns
Mapleton vs Mercer vs Smithfield 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 most affordable homes ($192k median).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Smithfield has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Mercer | Smithfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
718Lowest |
856 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Mercer 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% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 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±$25k 23% above ME |
$71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Smithfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Smithfield 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 |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Mercer and Union 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 |
$1,970 35% below ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Smithfield and Union 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% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield and Mercer 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 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school 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.