Compare towns
Appleton vs Bridgewater vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k 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 | Bridgewater | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,169Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 34% below U.S. |
$82,361±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Bridgewater 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 29% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Newfound Area School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.