Compare towns
Union vs Wilder 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%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Mapleton | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
3,087 |
1,884Lowest |
3,696Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8 12% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$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. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$305,100±$42kHighest 8% below U.S. |
| West Gardiner and Wilder 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. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,087±$150 23% below U.S. |
| Union and Wilder 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. |
$5,505Highest 76% 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% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Gardiner and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 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. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.