Compare towns
Union vs Danforth vs West Gardiner 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 the most people working from home (15.9%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
West Gardiner has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Danforth | West Gardiner | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
666Lowest |
3,696Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 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% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$305,100±$42kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| West Gardiner 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 |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,087±$150 5% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Union and West Gardiner 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 |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,282 25% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| West Gardiner and Danforth 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and West Gardiner 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 | — | — | #90 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | 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 | 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.