Compare towns
Union vs New Gloucester 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%).
New Gloucester has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Bowdoin has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | New Gloucester | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Lowest |
5,766Highest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and Union 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% |
24.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and New Gloucester 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% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and New Gloucester 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 |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
| New Gloucester and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kLowest 10% below ME |
$357,100±$29kHighest 20% above ME |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
| New Gloucester and Bowdoin 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 |
$1,150±$249Lowest about the ME average |
— |
| Union and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
$3,417Highest 13% above ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| New Gloucester 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% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% 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 min 20% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and New Gloucester 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 | — | #65 of 133 in ME | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None 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.