Compare towns
Camden vs Appleton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Camden has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Camden | Appleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,242Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.5Highest 17% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Camden and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Camden and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,344±$15kHighest 10% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Camden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $520,600±$70kHighest 76% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,269±$354Highest 11% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Camden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,832Highest 92% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±15.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Camden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 11% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±8.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Camden and Union 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 | #11 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 28/MSAD 28 | Appleton Public Schools | 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 |
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.