Compare towns
Union vs Brewer vs Mapleton vs Warren
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%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Warren has the oldest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Brewer | Mapleton | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
9,652Highest |
1,884Lowest |
4,932 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% below ME |
| Warren 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% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| 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 ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer 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% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer 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 8% above ME |
$66,613±$9kLowest 11% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$74,616±$21k about the ME average |
| Mapleton 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 |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$232,700±$32k 22% below ME |
| Union and Brewer 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 |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,125±$456 about the ME average |
| Union and Warren 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 |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,832 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Brewer and Warren 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% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Warren 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME | — | #120 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.