Compare towns
Appleton vs Burnham vs Phillips 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%).
Burnham has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Phillips has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Burnham | Phillips | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
953Lowest |
1,094 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.4±3.2 8% above ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Phillips 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% |
16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Phillips 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% |
22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Burnham 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% |
20.8% ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips 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 |
$59,261±$18k 21% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Burnham 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 |
$178,100±$43kLowest 40% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% 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 |
$1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Burnham and Union 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 |
$1,897Lowest 38% below ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Burnham 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% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±10.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Burnham and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | 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.