Compare towns
Mapleton vs Waldo vs Danforth 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).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
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 | Waldo | Danforth | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
926 |
666Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth 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% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest 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±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Waldo 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 |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$1,623 47% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Waldo-Region 7 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school 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.