Compare towns
West Paris vs Union vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Paris has the most people working from home (23.8%).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | West Paris | Union | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,808 |
2,663Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±7.9 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
| Strong and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| West Paris and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Union and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,324±$5k 25% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,000±$20k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$333Lowest 26% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Union and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,083 31% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±34.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| West Paris and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.8%±18.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| West Paris and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.