Compare towns
Mapleton vs Surry vs Dedham 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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Surry | Dedham | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,836 |
1,656Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Surry and Dedham 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% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Dedham 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% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$74,508±$12kLowest about the ME average |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Dedham 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±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Dedham and Surry 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 |
$969±$129 15% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Dedham 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 |
$1,903 37% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Surry 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Surry Public Schools | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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.