Compare towns
Union vs New Gloucester vs Washington vs Mapleton
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).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Washington | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
5,766Highest |
1,624Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Washington and Mapleton 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 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%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Washington 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% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Union 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 |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| New Gloucester and Mapleton 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 |
$357,100±$29kHighest 20% above ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,150±$249 about the ME average |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Union and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 8% above ME |
$3,417Highest 13% above ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12 ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and New Gloucester 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% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #65 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.