Compare towns
Appleton vs Augusta vs Warren vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Appleton | Augusta | Warren | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
19,077Highest |
4,932 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Warren and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$74,616±$21k about the ME average |
$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 | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$201,000±$18kLowest 32% below ME |
$232,700±$32k 22% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,125±$456 about the ME average |
$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 | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,465Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,832 7% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
18.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Augusta 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | #120 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— | — |
| 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.