Compare towns
Mapleton vs Orland vs Peru 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).
Orland has the most people working from home (17%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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 | Orland | Peru | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,915 |
1,501Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Peru 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% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 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% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Orland and Peru 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% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Mapleton 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 |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$66,827±$19kLowest 11% 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 |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Orland and Union 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 |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Orland 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 |
$2,089 31% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Orland 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% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Orland 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 56 | 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.