Compare towns
Mapleton vs Unity vs Mechanic Falls vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Mechanic Falls has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Unity | Mechanic Falls | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,375Lowest |
3,134Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
39.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$69,914±$12kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$270,900±$44k 19% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Unity and Mechanic Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,076±$208 24% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Unity and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,993 4% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mechanic Falls and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Mapleton 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 | — | — | #122 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Unity School District | RSU 16 | 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 |
U.S. 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.