Compare towns
Appleton vs Hope vs Sherman 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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Sherman has the most people working from home (28.2%).
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 | Hope | Sherman | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,748 |
947Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
33.4±8.6Lowest 25% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
33.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Sherman and Union 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% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±0.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 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 |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$49,444±$7kLowest 34% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Hope 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$115,200±$14kLowest 61% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$672±$329Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,328Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
46.7%±77.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Sherman 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
37.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.4% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
22 min 11% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
28.2%±12.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Sherman and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | — | 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.