Compare towns
Union vs Jay vs Hope vs Bowdoin
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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Jay | Hope | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
471Lowest |
1,748 |
3,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Jay and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Hope 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% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Bowdoin 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 about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Hope 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
| Hope and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
— |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,842Highest 23% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Hope 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Hope Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.