Compare towns
Union vs Wayne vs Winthrop 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%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Winthrop has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Wayne | Winthrop | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,101Lowest |
6,191Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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±$9kLowest 8% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| Wayne 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 10% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$892±$319 22% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Union and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 8% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Wayne 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 | — | — | #12 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.