Compare towns
Union vs Perham vs Mapleton 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).
Perham has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Perham | Mapleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
326Lowest |
1,884 |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
53±12.9Highest 18% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
| Perham and Washington 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% |
19.6%±8.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 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% |
24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Perham 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% |
18.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 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 |
$62,500±$22k 16% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above 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 |
$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% 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 |
$1,036±$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 |
$1,641Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Perham 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% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 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 | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 | 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.