Compare towns
Union vs Appleton vs Waldoboro vs Pittston
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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Waldoboro has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Waldoboro | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,360Lowest |
5,253Highest |
3,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
41.4±5.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Appleton 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% |
15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±7.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Pittston 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% |
22.6%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±6.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston 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 |
$69,107±$8k 8% below ME |
$86,614±$18kHighest 16% above ME |
| Pittston 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±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
$238,700±$66k 20% 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 |
$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,080±$593 5% 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 |
$2,861 6% below ME |
$1,909Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.6%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Pittston 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% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81% 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 |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest 3% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Medomak Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.