Compare towns
Union vs Barnet vs Bowdoin
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Barnet | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,855Lowest |
3,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Barnet and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Barnet 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% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Bowdoin 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 |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Union 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. |
$247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin 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. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
— |
| Union and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,489Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Barnet 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 | — | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

