Compare towns
Appleton vs Union vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
3,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 34% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Union and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and White River Junction 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.