Compare towns
Union vs Ellsworth 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).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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.
| Measure | Union | Ellsworth | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
8,657Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
43±2.4 4% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Ellsworth 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% |
18.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Ellsworth 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% |
22.1%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ellsworth 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±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$77,375±$18k 4% above ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Union and Ellsworth 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 |
$242,300±$22k 18% below ME |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
| Union and Ellsworth 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 |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,036±$322 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 | $3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$3,262 7% above ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Ellsworth and Washington 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% |
9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Ellsworth Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | 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.