Compare towns
Appleton vs Cushing vs Danforth vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k 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 | Cushing | Danforth | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,460 |
452Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Danforth 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% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Cushing 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% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Danforth 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% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Cushing 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±$33k 21% below ME |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Cushing 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 |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
— | $3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Cushing 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% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing 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 13 | — | 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.