Compare towns
Union vs Freeport vs Mapleton vs West Gardiner
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).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
West Gardiner has the most homeowners (88.7%).
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 | Freeport | Mapleton | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
8,802Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
| Freeport and West Gardiner 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% |
19.4%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.5Lowest 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% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport 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% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner and Freeport 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 |
$107,326±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$96,172±$30k 29% above ME |
| Freeport and West Gardiner 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 |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$305,100±$42k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,087±$150 5% below ME |
| Freeport and Union 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 |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,282 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport and Union 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 | — | #4 of 133 in ME | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 05 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.