Compare towns
Appleton vs Sidney vs Washburn 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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Sidney | Washburn | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
4,790Highest |
1,355Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43±5.5 4% below ME |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Washburn 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% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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 |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Sidney 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 |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Sidney 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 |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Sidney 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 |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Sidney 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.