Compare towns
Union vs Unity vs Washington 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 the most expensive homes ($268k median).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Washington | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,858 |
1,624Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Washington and Mapleton 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% |
14.2%±4 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 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% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above 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 |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Union and Unity 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±$73 23% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% 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 |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | 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.