Compare towns
Union vs Appleton vs Danforth vs Waldoboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Waldoboro has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Union | Appleton | Danforth | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,360 |
666Lowest |
5,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
50.1±4.6 12% above ME |
| Danforth and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 | $80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$69,107±$8k 8% below ME |
| Union and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$348±$153Lowest 69% 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 | $3,276 8% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,861 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
25 minLowest 3% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Appleton 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 | — | — | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.