Compare towns
Union vs Windham vs Mapleton vs Bowdoin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Bowdoin has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Windham | Mapleton | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
19,188Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
41.8±1.8 7% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.3±10Highest about the ME average |
| Bowdoin and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Windham 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 |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$91,239±$13k 22% above ME |
| Windham 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 |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Windham and Union 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 |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Windham and Union 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Union 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 | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 14 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.