Compare towns
Appleton vs Ellsworth vs Mapleton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Ellsworth | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
51Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
61.8±13.1Highest 59% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Ellsworth 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±59.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.2%±46.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±33.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 34% below U.S. |
$89,375±$39k 11% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$350,000±$170kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Ellsworth and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
— | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,813Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
— | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±26.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ellsworth 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 79/MSAD 01 | 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 |
U.S. 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.