Compare towns
Appleton vs Liberty vs Somerville 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).
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k 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 | Liberty | Somerville | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
969 |
837Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville 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% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Liberty 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% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Somerville 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 |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
$218,100±$41kLowest 26% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Somerville and Union 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 |
$2,434Lowest 20% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Somerville 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% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 12 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.