Compare towns
Mapleton vs Union vs Orland
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).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Union | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
| Orland 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% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest 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% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland 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 |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$69,348±$29kLowest 7% 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±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
| Orland and Union 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 |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
| Union and Orland 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 |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,089 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Orland 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% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland and Union 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

