Compare towns
Crystal vs Appleton vs Union vs Patten
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Crystal has the oldest population (median age 63.2).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).
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 | Crystal | Appleton | Union | Patten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 247Lowest |
1,360 |
2,663Highest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 63.2±8.4Highest 41% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
57.8±3.5 29% above ME |
| Crystal and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±11.8 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 49%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1 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 | $48,125±$13kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$51,484±$6k 31% below ME |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $129,200±$60k 56% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$922Highest 37% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
| Crystal and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $943Lowest 69% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$1,199 61% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
23.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 10% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±15.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Patten 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.