Compare towns
Appleton vs Clifton vs Denmark 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%).
Clifton has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
Denmark has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Clifton | Denmark | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,111 |
1,054Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.7±7.1 18% above ME |
54.4±5Highest 21% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Denmark and Clifton 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%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Clifton 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% |
21.2%±7.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Denmark 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% ME: 36.2% |
26.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Clifton and Denmark 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 |
$70,313±$16k 6% below ME |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Clifton 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 |
$202,500±$67kLowest 32% below ME |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Denmark 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 |
$1,217±$624 7% above ME |
$1,409±$207Highest 24% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Denmark and Clifton 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 |
$1,838Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,259 26% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
81.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Appleton 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% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest 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 |
29 minLowest 19% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| 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.