Compare towns
Madison 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
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Madison | Appleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$59kLowest 45% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% 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 | $850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,740Lowest 43% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 25% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison 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 |
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.