Compare towns
Randolph vs Union vs Howland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Howland has the most affordable homes ($150k 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 | Randolph | Union | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,610 |
2,663Highest |
1,367Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.6% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Randolph and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,574±$16k 11% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Union and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,300±$21k 41% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$150,100±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,186±$207Highest 4% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$916±$246Lowest 20% below ME |
| Randolph and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,160 29% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±8.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Howland and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.3%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.