Compare towns
Appleton vs Surry vs Chapman 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 most renters (17.4% rent).
Surry has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k 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 | Surry | Chapman | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,836 |
388Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Surry and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Surry and Chapman 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% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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 |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Chapman 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 |
$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Surry 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 |
$969±$129Lowest 15% 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 |
$1,903 37% below ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Surry 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% |
7% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Surry Public Schools | — | 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.