Compare towns
Mapleton vs Wells vs Gorham 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Wells | Gorham | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
11,713 |
18,300Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$80,724±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
| Gorham 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$460,900±$26k 55% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Wells and Gorham 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 |
$1,350±$297 19% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Gorham and Wells 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 |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells and Gorham 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest same as ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.