Compare towns
Mapleton vs Phillips vs Ellsworth 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).
Phillips has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Phillips | Ellsworth | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,094Lowest |
8,657Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
43±2.4 4% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±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% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth 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 |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$77,375±$18k 4% above 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 |
$190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
$242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,017±$195 11% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Ellsworth 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 |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$3,262 7% above ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Phillips 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.