Compare towns
Acton vs Appleton vs Union vs Newfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Newfield has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Acton | Appleton | Union | Newfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
1,580 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
52.8±8.1 18% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.9%±6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Newfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15k 5% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$57,188±$20k 23% below ME |
| Union and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$318,100±$27k 7% above ME |
| Acton and Newfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
— |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,402Lowest 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 64% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
49 minHighest 98% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| 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.