Compare towns
Appleton vs Robbinston vs Union vs Searsmont
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%).
Robbinston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Searsmont has the highest household income ($87k).
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 | Robbinston | Union | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
621Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.1±2.7 7% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Robbinston 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% |
14.3%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Robbinston 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% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont 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 |
$68,333±$13k 9% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
| Searsmont 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 |
$228,000±$41kLowest 23% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
| Searsmont 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 |
$1,232±$808Highest 8% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$940±$311Lowest 17% below ME |
| Robbinston 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 |
$1,478Lowest 51% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.6%±26.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Robbinston 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% |
15.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont 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 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 71 |
| 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 | 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.