Compare towns
Union vs Appleton vs Hope vs Washington
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 the most renters (17.4% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k median).
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 | Hope | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,748 |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
| Appleton and Washington 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% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 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±$9k 8% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,036±$322Lowest 9% below ME |
| Hope and Union 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 |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washington 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.