Compare towns
Warren vs Waterville 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 oldest population (median age 42.2).
Waterville has the most renters (51.2% rent).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Waterville | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,932 |
17,077Highest |
2,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% ME: +2.6% |
+0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Highest 6% below ME |
35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Warren and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Waterville 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% |
30.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,616±$21k about the ME average |
$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Warren 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 |
$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Warren 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 |
$978±$72Lowest 14% 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 |
$2,755Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.1%±29.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.5%±8.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Warren and Waterville 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% |
20.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% ME: 74.3% |
48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 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% |
16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Waterville 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 | #105 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Waterville Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.