Compare towns
Union vs Wales 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Wales has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Wales | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,924 |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
35.1±4.2Lowest 22% below ME |
41.8±6Highest 7% below ME |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
30.2%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Wales and Union 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%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
15.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Wales 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 |
$77,004±$5kLowest 3% above 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 |
$250,400±$28k 16% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Union and Wales 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 |
$1,154±$64 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Union and Wales 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 |
$2,578 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
83.3%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 10.2% ME: 10.7% |
25.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 20% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±13.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wales and Union 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 04 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oak Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.