Compare towns
Warren vs Mount Desert 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 most affordable homes ($233k median).
Mount Desert has the most expensive homes ($522k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Mount Desert | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
1,671Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
54.9±8.2Highest 23% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Mount Desert 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
64.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Warren and Mount Desert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,616±$21kLowest about the ME average |
$92,813±$9kHighest 24% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Mount Desert and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,700±$32kLowest 22% below ME |
$522,100±$66kHighest 76% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$456Lowest about the ME average |
$1,341±$89Highest 18% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Mount Desert and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,832Lowest 7% below ME |
$3,512Highest 16% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±29.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.9%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Warren and Mount Desert 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% |
7.4% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.8% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 8% below ME |
18 minLowest 27% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.6%±9.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.1%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Mount Desert 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 | #120 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Mount Desert Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.