Compare towns
Union vs Sumner vs Mapleton vs West Gardiner
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).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
West Gardiner has the most expensive homes ($305k median).
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 | Sumner | Mapleton | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
845Lowest |
1,884 |
3,696Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.5 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Union 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME |
| 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 10% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$305,100±$42kHighest about the ME average |
| West Gardiner 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 |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,087±$150 5% below ME |
| Union and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,282 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 | — | — | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 10 | 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 | 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.