Compare towns
Union vs Starks 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).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Mapleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
556Lowest |
1,884 |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Starks 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%±4.4 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% |
20.3%±2.2 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% 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% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$63,500±$8k 15% 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 |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% 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 |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% 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 | $3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% 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% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Starks 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
90% 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 |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest 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 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.