Compare towns
Appleton vs Steuben vs Exeter 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Steuben has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Steuben | Exeter | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,388 |
1,093Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Exeter and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Steuben 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% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Exeter 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% |
18.9% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben 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 |
$76,466±$4k about the ME average |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Exeter 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 |
$173,900±$32k 41% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% 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±$82 3% below ME |
$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above 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 |
$2,029 33% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Exeter 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% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 minLowest 14% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 24 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.