Compare towns
Union vs Palmyra 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%).
Palmyra has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
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 | Palmyra | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
2,209Lowest |
3,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
37.1±4.8Lowest 17% 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%±4 ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra and Union 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% |
16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Palmyra 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% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Palmyra 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 |
$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
| Bowdoin 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±$42k 10% below ME |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and Union 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 |
$733±$119Lowest 36% below ME |
— |
| Union and Palmyra 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 |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Palmyra 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% |
9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Bowdoin 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 | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school 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.