Compare towns
Union vs Mapleton vs Calais 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 expensive homes ($268k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Calais has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Mapleton | Calais | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,884 |
3,097Highest |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.8±5.1 about the ME average |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Calais 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Calais 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
25.3% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Calais and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$64,096±$10k 14% below ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$111,100±$36kLowest 63% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Union and Washington 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,010±$199 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,684Lowest 45% below ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.7%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Calais 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
21.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
73.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
16 minLowest 35% below ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
2.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #48 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Calais Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Calais Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.