Compare towns
Appleton vs Searsmont vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Searsmont has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Searsmont | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,646Highest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.5±9.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Unity and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 34% below U.S. |
$87,000±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$284,000±$31kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
| Searsmont and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$940±$311Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,788Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±41.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±10.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Searsmont 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 71 | Unity School District |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.