Compare towns
Warren vs Danforth vs Oakland vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Oakland has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Warren | Danforth | Oakland | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932 |
452Lowest |
6,309Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% ME: +2.6% |
— | -0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Warren and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,616±$21k about the ME average |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,700±$32k 22% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$456 about the ME average |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,832 7% below ME |
— | $2,439Lowest 20% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 8% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Warren 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 | #120 of 133 in ME | — | #23 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | RSU 18 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Messalonskee High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.2 |
— |
| 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.