Compare towns
Appleton vs Brunswick vs Union vs Newburgh
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 oldest population (median age 49.2).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Brunswick | Union | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
17,652Highest |
2,663 |
1,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.9±2.2Lowest 15% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
16.1%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Newburgh 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% |
23%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Brunswick 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% |
51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$70,722±$5k 5% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Union and Newburgh 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 |
$363,200±$18kHighest 22% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,465±$100Highest 29% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
| Brunswick 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 |
$4,477Highest 47% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,748Lowest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
58.8%±9.2 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brunswick 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% |
8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
11.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick 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 | — | #30 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school 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.