Compare towns
Union vs Wallingford vs Mapleton vs West Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Wallingford | Mapleton | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
2,286 |
1,884Lowest |
3,696Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8 12% above U.S. |
| Wallingford and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wallingford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$96,172±$30kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$305,100±$42kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| 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 17% below U.S. |
$891±$95 37% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,087±$150 23% below U.S. |
| Union and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$4,355Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,282 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and West Gardiner 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | 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 |
U.S. 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.