Compare towns
Appleton vs Bowdoinham 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%).
Bowdoinham has the most expensive homes ($406k 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 | Bowdoinham | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,142Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
51.9±13.1Highest 16% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Bowdoinham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±6.8 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Bowdoinham 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% |
21.4%±6.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Bowdoinham 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% |
43.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Union 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 |
$108,479±$21kHighest 45% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Bowdoinham 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 |
$405,500±$105kHighest 37% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Bowdoinham and Union 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 | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,958Lowest about the ME average |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±19.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Bowdoinham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 10% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Bowdoinham 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 | — | #73 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | 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 | 12 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.