Compare towns
Appleton vs Lubec vs Perry 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%).
Lubec has the oldest population (median age 59.3).
Perry has the most homeowners (91.8%).
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 | Lubec | Perry | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,346 |
744Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9% ME: +2.6% |
-9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
59.3±4.5Highest 32% above ME |
45.5±11.4 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Lubec 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 ME: 18.1% |
14.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Perry 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% |
41.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
32.6% ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.2%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Lubec 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$52,375±$11kLowest 30% below ME |
$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Perry 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 |
$188,700±$26kLowest 36% below ME |
$196,400±$13k 34% 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 |
$550±$204Lowest 52% below ME |
— | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| 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 18% above ME |
$2,039Lowest 33% below ME |
$3,132 3% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.6%±25.6 ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Lubec 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% |
14.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
26 min 6% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.3%±12.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Lubec and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 85/MSAD 19 | Perry Public Schools | 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.