Compare towns
Appleton vs Eustis vs Union vs Strong
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%).
Eustis has the shortest commute (12 min average).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
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 | Eustis | Union | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
453Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
59.1±14Highest 32% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Eustis 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% |
15.5%±13.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Strong 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% |
38.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Eustis 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% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 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 |
$32,118±$11kLowest 57% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
$262,200±$51k 12% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Union and Eustis 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 |
$916±$547Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
$1,542Lowest 49% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
66%±37.8 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Eustis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
61.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
12 minLowest 52% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.5%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 | Eustis Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.