Compare towns
Appleton vs Westfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Westfield has the most expensive homes ($301k median).
Union has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Westfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
536Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44±19.9 13% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Westfield 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% |
27.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Westfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 34% below U.S. |
$72,500±$30k 10% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$301,400±$47kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Westfield 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. |
$863±$187Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton 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. |
$4,388Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±71.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Westfield 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Westfield 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.