Compare towns
Union vs Alstead vs Mapleton vs Pittston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Union | Alstead | Mapleton | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,551Lowest |
1,884 |
3,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$86,614±$18k 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$238,700±$66k 28% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,080±$593 24% below U.S. |
| Union and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,909 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Alstead 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 | — | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.