Compare towns
Union vs Belgrade vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Belgrade has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Belgrade | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
3,351Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Belgrade and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Belgrade 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% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade 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±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$312,200±$44kHighest 5% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Belgrade 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 4% above ME |
$857±$108 25% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Union and Belgrade 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 |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Union and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Belgrade and Union 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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 |
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.