Compare towns
Readfield 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
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
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 | Readfield | Appleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
1,360Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 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 | $86,504±$8kHighest 16% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Readfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Readfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392 12% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.