Compare towns
Newburgh vs Appleton vs Union vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Union has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Newburgh | Appleton | Union | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,475 |
1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
7,896Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,750±$10k about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
| Hampden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
| Hampden and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,748Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden 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 | — | — | — | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.8 |
| 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.