Compare towns
Appleton vs Union vs Weld vs Searsmont
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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Weld has the oldest population (median age 64).
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Union | Weld | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,663Highest |
459Lowest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
— | +0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
64±6.7Highest 43% above ME |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Weld 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% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
44.4%±12.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Weld and Appleton 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% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
42.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont 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 |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$62,083±$11k 17% below ME |
$87,000±$20kHighest 16% above ME |
| Searsmont 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±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$268,600±$17k 9% below ME |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
| Searsmont and Weld 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 |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
— | $940±$311Lowest 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 |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$1,308Lowest 57% below ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±8.4 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Searsmont and Union 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 | — | RSU 71 |
| 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.