Compare towns
Appleton vs Unity vs Phillips vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Phillips has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Phillips | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,858 |
1,094Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Phillips and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$190,800±$18kLowest 36% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% 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 |
$2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Unity 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% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.