Compare towns
Appleton vs Dresden 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Dresden has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Dresden | Union | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,645 |
2,663Highest |
1,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
| Dresden 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% |
17%±3.4 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% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Dresden 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% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
$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 |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Union and Newburgh 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 |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
| Dresden 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 |
$2,500Lowest 18% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh 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% |
9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
11.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 02 | 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.