Compare towns
Starks vs Union vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Starks | Union | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Union and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,036±$322Lowest 9% below ME |
| Union and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.