Compare towns

Strong vs Union vs Chapman

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
Chapman has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureStrongUnionChapman
People
Population
1,249
2,663Highest
388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+5.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
47.5±8.9Highest
6% above ME
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% below ME
45.7±11.4
about the ME average
Strong and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.5%±3.5Lowest
ME: 18.1%
24.9%±4
ME: 18.1%
27.6%±5.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Chapman and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±4.1
ME: 22.4%
21.4%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
27.6%±3.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
Chapman and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.5%
ME: 36.2%
34.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
22.8%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
5.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Chapman and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,557±$10kLowest
36% below ME
$80,724±$9k
8% above ME
$93,125±$17kHighest
25% above ME
Chapman and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$183,900±$29kLowest
38% below ME
$267,600±$42kHighest
10% below ME
$185,700±$22k
37% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$920±$276Lowest
19% below ME
$1,179±$452Highest
4% above ME
—
Union and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,950
36% below ME
$3,276Highest
8% above ME
$1,850Lowest
39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20.9%±52.4
ME: 48.4%
24.6%±19.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Union and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
10.2%
ME: 10.7%
6.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
85.9%
ME: 74.3%
94.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
6 yrs older than ME
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1982Highest
5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
26% above ME
29 min
20% above ME
23 minLowest
6% below ME
Work from home
18.5%±9.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
15.9%±5.3
ME: 15.9%
4.8%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Strong and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district RSU 58/MSAD 58 RSU 40/MSAD 40 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.