Compare towns
Union vs Appleton vs Readfield vs Mapleton
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%).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Readfield | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,651 |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
41.8±6 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 | 24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±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+ | 34.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton 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 |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Mapleton and Readfield 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 |
$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% 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 | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Union and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 8% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,392 12% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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 | 10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 38 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.