Compare towns
Washington vs Mapleton vs Union vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k 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 | Washington | Mapleton | Union | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,624Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
2,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME |
| Washington and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$85,078±$17k 14% above ME |
| Mapleton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
| Jefferson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,120±$130 about the ME average |
| Union and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286 25% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,587 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Washington 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 | — | — | — | #45 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Jefferson Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.