Compare towns
Appleton vs Hallowell vs Chapman vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hallowell has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Union has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Hallowell | Chapman | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,592 |
388Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.3±7.9Highest 12% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Hallowell 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% |
13.2%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Union 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% |
33.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Hallowell and Chapman 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% |
52.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.4%±6.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hallowell and Chapman 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 |
$68,398±$10k 8% below ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Chapman 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 |
$295,300±$45kHighest about the ME average |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Hallowell 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 3% below ME |
$890±$175Lowest 22% below ME |
— | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$3,867Highest 27% above ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hallowell 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% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
58.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
14 minLowest 43% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Hallowell 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 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.