Compare towns
Appleton vs Edgecomb vs Palermo 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%).
Edgecomb has the most expensive homes ($348k median).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
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 | Edgecomb | Palermo | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,251Lowest |
1,473 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41±8.8Lowest 8% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Palermo 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% |
16.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Palermo 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% |
24.5%±7.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Edgecomb 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% |
39.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
8%±6.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Edgecomb 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 |
$108,750±$18kHighest 46% above ME |
$89,095±$15k 19% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Edgecomb and Palermo 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 |
$348,400±$36kHighest 17% above ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— | $1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Palermo 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 |
$3,577 18% above ME |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±43.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Palermo 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% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.7% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo 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 | Edgecomb Public Schools | RSU 12 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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.