Compare towns
Mapleton vs Sullivan vs Steep Falls 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).
Sullivan has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Sullivan | Steep Falls | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,246Lowest |
1,861 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
47.1±15Highest 5% above ME |
44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Sullivan 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% |
18%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest 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% |
22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Sullivan 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% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan 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 |
$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME |
$80,280±$33k 7% 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±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% 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±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above 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 | $1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
$3,273 8% above ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Sullivan 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% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Sullivan 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 24 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5 |
— | — |
| 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.