Compare towns
Appleton vs Waldoboro vs Wilton vs Union
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%).
Waldoboro has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Wilton has the most affordable homes ($202k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Waldoboro | Wilton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
5,253Highest |
3,862 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-6.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
46.1±6.6 about the ME average |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Waldoboro 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% |
15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Wilton 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% |
22.6%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
27%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wilton 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% |
29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Wilton 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 |
$69,107±$8k 8% below ME |
$63,396±$23k 15% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
$202,000±$30kLowest 32% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Union 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 |
$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
$446±$274 61% 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 |
$2,861 6% below ME |
$2,344Lowest 23% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
52.5%±31.1 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Wilton 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% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.8% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest 3% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.1%±7.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #55 of 133 in ME | #121 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 09 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Medomak Valley High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.