Compare towns
Union vs Exeter vs Bowdoin
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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k 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 | Exeter | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,093Lowest |
3,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
| Exeter and Bowdoin 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Bowdoin 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% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Exeter 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 8% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
| Bowdoin and Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin 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 |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
— |
| Union and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 20% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Bowdoin 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 | — | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.