What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Sharon has the most affordable homes ($171k median).

Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	New Sharon	Union
People
Population	1,550Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.9±8.9Highest about the ME average	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME
	New Sharon and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%	24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Union and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.8%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%	21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	New Sharon and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Union and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,889±$21kLowest 15% below ME	$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME
	Union and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$171,200±$21kLowest 42% below ME	$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$961±$55Lowest 16% below ME	$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME
	Union and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,889Lowest 38% below ME	$3,276Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61%±38Highest ME: 48.4%	24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	New Sharon and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	10.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	29 minLowest 20% above ME
Work from home	8.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Union and New Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 09	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.