Compare towns
Appleton vs Kittery vs Brewer 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Kittery has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Kittery | Brewer | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
10,473Highest |
9,652 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.8±2.3 4% above ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Kittery 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% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Brewer 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% |
26.9%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Kittery 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
46%Highest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Kittery 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 |
$93,728±$14kHighest 25% above ME |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Kittery 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±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$468,500±$31kHighest 58% above ME |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,716±$224Highest 51% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Kittery 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 |
$4,518Highest 49% above ME |
$3,374 11% above ME |
$3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brewer 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
67.2% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965 12 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
22.7%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Kittery and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Kittery Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
— |
| 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.