Compare towns
Union vs East Machias 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%).
East Machias has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | East Machias | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,223Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
42.8±2.9Highest 4% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| East Machias 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% |
23.3%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and East Machias 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% |
19.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and East Machias 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% |
33.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and East Machias 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 |
$57,589±$10kLowest 23% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| 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 |
$210,800±$23k 29% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Union and East Machias 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 |
$907±$566 20% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Union and East Machias 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 |
$1,836 40% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±40.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| East Machias and Union 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% |
15.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | East Machias Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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.