Compare towns
Appleton vs Pittston vs Troy vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittston has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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 | Pittston | Troy | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,093Highest |
984Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.4±5.9Lowest 8% below ME |
49.3±13.6Highest 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Troy 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% |
17.2%±7.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Troy 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% |
18.5%±6.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Troy 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% |
26.7% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston and Troy 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 |
$86,614±$18kHighest 16% above ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Pittston 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 |
$238,700±$66k 20% below ME |
$213,000±$31kLowest 28% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Pittston 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 |
$1,080±$593Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,255±$211Highest 10% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Troy and Union 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 |
$1,909 37% below ME |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
57.6%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Troy and Union 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 | — | #123 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | 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.