Compare towns
Appleton vs Union vs Whiting
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).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,663Highest |
506Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
50±5Highest 12% above ME |
| Whiting 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% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Whiting 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%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Whiting 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$55,263±$2k 26% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$214,200±$52kLowest 28% 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 |
$600±$333Lowest 47% 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 |
$1,728Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Whiting 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Appleton 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 | Whiting Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.