Compare towns
Mapleton vs Thomaston vs Wayne 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).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Thomaston | Wayne | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
2,769Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-1.5% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
55.6±5.3 24% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Thomaston and Wayne 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% |
19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston and Wayne 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% |
30.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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±$25k 23% above ME |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$271,700±$10k 8% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Thomaston 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 |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Thomaston and Wayne 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% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1951Lowest 26 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 |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #99 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 13 | RSU 38 | 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.