Compare towns
Union vs Putney vs Mapleton vs West Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
West Gardiner has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Putney | Mapleton | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
2,622 |
1,884Lowest |
3,696Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
| West Gardiner 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$96,172±$30kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| West Gardiner 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 20% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$305,100±$42kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| West Gardiner and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,087±$150 23% below U.S. |
| Union and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,282 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Gardiner and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney and Union 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.