What stands out worked out from the figures below

Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

Van Buren has the most affordable homes ($98k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Union	Van Buren
People
Population	2,663Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME	56±3.2Highest 25% above ME
Kids under 18	24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	15.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	35.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	10.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Van Buren 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±$9kHighest 8% above ME	$40,170±$4kLowest 46% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME	$97,700±$24kLowest 67% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME	$733±$141Lowest 36% below ME
	Union and Van Buren 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	$1,415Lowest 53% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	40.7%±11Highest ME: 48.4%
	Van Buren and Union 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%	23%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	64.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME	1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 20% above ME	15 minLowest 40% below ME
Work from home	15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9%	8.3%±5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Union and Van Buren 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 88/MSAD 24
High school in town	None in town	Van Buren District Secondary Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.