Compare towns
Appleton vs Morrill vs Union vs Strong
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).
Morrill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Morrill | Union | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
914Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
39.8±6.1Lowest 11% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Morrill 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% |
18.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Strong 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% |
31.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$74,250±$18k about the ME average |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Union and Morrill 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 |
$214,000±$18k 28% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% 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 |
$975±$891 14% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below 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 |
$2,472 19% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.3%±45.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Morrill 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% |
6.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 16% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.9%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 | RSU 71 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.