Compare towns
Union vs Reading vs Bowdoin
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
699Lowest |
3,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Reading and Bowdoin 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Reading 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 about the U.S. average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
| Reading 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 17% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Union and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Union 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% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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.