Compare towns
Mapleton vs Starks vs Gorham 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 renters (20.1% rent).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Starks | Gorham | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
556Lowest |
18,300Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Starks and Mapleton 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% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Starks 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Gorham 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Gorham and Union 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Gorham 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham 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 | — | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.