Compare towns
Union vs Appleton vs Washington vs West Gardiner
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%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k median).
West Gardiner has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Washington | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,360Lowest |
1,624 |
3,696Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
| 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and West Gardiner 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% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner 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 |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
$96,172±$30kHighest 29% above ME |
| West Gardiner 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 |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
$305,100±$42kHighest about the ME average |
| West Gardiner 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 |
$1,036±$322Lowest 9% below ME |
$1,087±$150 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 |
$2,286 25% below ME |
$2,282Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and West Gardiner 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% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% 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 |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Washington 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 | — | — | — | #90 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 | 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.