Compare towns

Union vs Bowdoin vs Washington

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 most kids (24.9% under 18).
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k 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.

MeasureUnionBowdoinWashington
People
Population
2,663
3,188Highest
1,624Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+2.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+4.3%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% below ME
44.3±10
about the ME average
48.2±6.7Highest
8% above ME
Washington 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
ME: 18.1%
19.1%±6.2
ME: 18.1%
14.2%±4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Union and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±3.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
21.3%±4.3
ME: 22.4%
Union and Washington 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
ME: 36.2%
30.4%
ME: 36.2%
17.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3%±1.7
ME: 5.8%
Union and Washington 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
$91,239±$13kHighest
22% above ME
$59,861±$17kLowest
20% below ME
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
10% below ME
$292,800±$71kHighest
about the ME average
$195,200±$36kLowest
34% below ME
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
4% above ME
—
$1,036±$322Lowest
9% below ME
Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,276
8% above ME
$3,375Highest
11% above ME
$2,286Lowest
25% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.6%±19.8
ME: 48.4%
0%±42.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
55.3%±62.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
Washington and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
11%
ME: 10.7%
15.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
ME: 74.3%
84.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
2 yrs newer than ME
1992Highest
15 yrs newer than ME
1987
10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
20% above ME
32 min
29% above ME
32 minHighest
30% above ME
Work from home
15.9%±5.3Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.7%±7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
14.6%±5.9
ME: 15.9%
Union and Washington 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 RSU 75/MSAD 75 RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.