Compare towns
Appleton vs Jay vs Union vs Searsmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Jay | Union | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
471Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8 14% above U.S. |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Searsmont 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. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$87,000±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Searsmont 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 29% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Searsmont 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. |
— | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$940±$311Lowest 33% 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 | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 71 |
| 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 |
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.