Compare towns
Appleton vs Boothbay vs Camden 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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Boothbay has the shortest commute (13 min average).
Camden has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
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 | Boothbay | Camden | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,102 |
5,242Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
56.8±3.9Highest 27% above ME |
52.2±6.5 17% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Boothbay and Camden 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% |
11.5%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
35.4%±7.8 ME: 22.4% |
38%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Camden and Boothbay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.9% ME: 36.2% |
62.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Boothbay 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$60,320±$17k 19% below ME |
$82,344±$15kHighest 10% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Camden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$342,100±$43k 15% above ME |
$520,600±$70kHighest 76% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,147±$121 about the ME average |
$1,269±$354Highest 11% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Camden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$2,202Lowest 27% below ME |
$5,832Highest 92% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.4%±31 ME: 48.4% |
39.9%±15.2 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Camden 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% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.4% ME: 74.3% |
73.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
13 minLowest 46% below ME |
22 min 11% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Camden 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 | — | — | #11 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 28/MSAD 28 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school 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.