Compare towns
Mapleton vs Steep Falls vs Union vs Washburn
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).
Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
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 | Steep Falls | Union | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,861 |
2,663Highest |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washburn and Steep Falls 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%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Steep Falls 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% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Washburn 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% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Washburn 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 |
$80,280±$33k 7% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below 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 |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Union and Steep Falls 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 |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Steep Falls 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 |
$3,273 8% above ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Washburn 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% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 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 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.