Compare towns
Union vs Dummer vs West Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Dummer has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
West Gardiner has the most expensive homes ($305k 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 | Dummer | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
299Lowest |
3,696Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Gardiner and Union 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 about the U.S. average |
$91,250±$21k 13% above U.S. |
$96,172±$30kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| West Gardiner and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$305,100±$42kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| 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 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,087±$150Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| 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 5% above U.S. |
$2,898 7% below U.S. |
$2,282Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.