Compare towns
Appleton vs Wells River vs Whiting vs Union
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).
Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Wells River | Whiting | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
340Lowest |
532 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Wells River 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% |
17.1%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Whiting 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 29% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Whiting 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 22% below U.S. |
$900±$336Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Whiting 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. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 | 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.