Compare towns
Appleton vs Orrington 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%).
Orrington has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Orrington | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,853Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.5±3.3Highest 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Orrington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Orrington 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% |
23.8%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Orrington 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% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Orrington 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$94,556±$10kHighest 27% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Orrington 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 |
$309,000±$49kHighest 4% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Orrington and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,167±$135 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Orrington 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 |
$2,823Lowest 7% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #41 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Orrington 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 | 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.