Compare towns
Appleton vs Somerville vs Waldo 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).
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Union has the most expensive homes ($268k median).
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 | Somerville | Waldo | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
837Lowest |
926 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
37.5±9.6 16% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Union 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% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Union 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 |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Waldo 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 |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Somerville 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 |
$2,505 17% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo 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% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 12 | Waldo-Region 7 | 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.