What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Burke has the oldest population (median age 59.2).

Union has the highest household income ($81k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Burke	Union
People
Population	161Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+5.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	59.2±16.3Highest 52% above U.S.	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S.
	West Burke and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.8%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Union and West Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.1%±13.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	West Burke and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	West Burke and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$27,321±$15kLowest 66% below U.S.	$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,000±$60kHighest 17% below U.S.	$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S.
	West Burke and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$525±$373Lowest 63% below U.S.	$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S.
	Union and West Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,194Lowest about the U.S. average	$3,276Highest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.8%±31.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	20.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	20%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	West Burke and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.