Compare towns
Union vs Saco 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 kids (24.9% under 18).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Saco | Mapleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
20,819Highest |
1,884 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Saco 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% |
16.7%±2.5 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%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 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% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest 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% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Mapleton 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 |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Saco 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 |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Saco and Union 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 |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Saco 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
24 minLowest 3% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Saco 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Saco Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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.