Compare towns
Appleton vs Washington vs Palermo 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%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k median).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Washington | Palermo | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,624 |
1,473 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Palermo 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% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2Lowest 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% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 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 |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Palermo and Union 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 |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Palermo 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 |
$1,036±$322Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Palermo and Union 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 |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Palermo 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% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo 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 12 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.