Compare towns
Union vs Beals vs Chapman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k 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 | Union | Beals | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
498 |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
48±15.6Highest 7% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
| Beals and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±6.5Lowest 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+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Beals and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% ME: 36.2% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Beals and Chapman 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 8% above ME |
$64,063±$14kLowest 14% below 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 | $267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$256,700±$45k 13% below ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
| Union and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME |
— |
| Union and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Union and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Beals and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Beals Public Schools | — |
| 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.