Compare towns
Union vs Starks vs Bowdoin vs Mapleton
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%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k median).
Mapleton has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Starks | Bowdoin | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
556Lowest |
3,188Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Starks 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 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 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% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Starks 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% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest 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 |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin 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 |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$292,800±$71kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| 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 |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Union and Starks 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,375Highest 11% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.