Compare towns
Appleton vs Chapman vs Wayne 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 renters (17.4% rent).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Union has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Chapman | Wayne | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
388Lowest |
1,101 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Wayne 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 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Union 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% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Chapman 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% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Chapman 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 |
$93,125±$17k 25% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Wayne and Chapman 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 |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $983±$554Lowest 14% 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 |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Wayne 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 38 | 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.