Compare towns
Union vs Unity vs Franklin 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).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Franklin | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,858 |
1,628 |
1,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Franklin 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin 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% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Union and Franklin 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 |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
| Union and Franklin 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Union and Washington 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,231Lowest 27% below ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.