Compare towns
Appleton vs Long Island 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 most affordable homes ($236k median).
Long Island has the most expensive homes ($551k median).
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 | Long Island | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
249Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
47.5±10.6 6% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Long Island 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% |
18.1%±11.5 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Long Island 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% |
28.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Long Island 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% |
50.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$91,250±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Long Island 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 |
$551,100±$122kHighest 86% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$2,194±$226Highest 93% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,357 11% above ME |
$3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Long Island and Appleton 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% |
4.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%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 |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.8%±13Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Long Island 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 | Long Island 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 | 3 photos → | 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.