Compare towns
Peru vs Appleton vs Union vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Bradford has the highest household income ($83k).
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 | Peru | Appleton | Union | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501 |
1,360 |
2,663Highest |
1,254Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-8.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
49.7±8Highest 11% above ME |
| Bradford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±1.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$82,955±$26kHighest 11% above ME |
| Bradford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$176,200±$15k 41% 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 | $723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$742±$392 35% below ME |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,315 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
87.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bradford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
86.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 56 | 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 | 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.