Compare towns
Appleton vs Union vs West Paris
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%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
West Paris has the most people working from home (23.8%).
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 | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
46±7.9 about the ME average |
| Appleton and West Paris 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% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and West Paris 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$56,324±$5k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$193,000±$20kLowest 35% 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 |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$838±$333Lowest 26% 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 |
$2,083Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.5%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and West Paris 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% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
23.8%±18.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| West Paris 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 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.