Compare towns
Appleton vs Starks vs Union vs Newburgh
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%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Starks | Union | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
556Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Starks 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% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Newburgh 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% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 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% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh 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 |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Union and Newburgh 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 |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Union and Newburgh 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 |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Union 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 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.