Compare towns
Appleton vs Meddybemps vs Newburgh 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).
Meddybemps has the oldest population (median age 63.9).
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Meddybemps | Newburgh | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
139Lowest |
1,475 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
63.9±4.2Highest 43% above ME |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
5%±21.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Newburgh 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% |
39.6%±15.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Meddybemps 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% ME: 36.2% |
14.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±10.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Meddybemps and Newburgh 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 |
$48,000±$13kLowest 36% below ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Newburgh 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 |
$295,000±$73kHighest about the ME average |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Meddybemps 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 3% below ME |
— | $950±$219Lowest 17% 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 |
$1,206Lowest 60% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Meddybemps 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% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 28% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.4%±7.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school 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.