Compare towns
Union vs Atkinson vs Appleton vs Waldoboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Atkinson | Appleton | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
7,267Highest |
1,360Lowest |
5,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.1±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Atkinson 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Atkinson 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 about the U.S. average |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$69,107±$8k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$274,900±$39k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$348±$153Lowest 75% below U.S. |
| Union and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,861Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson 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 | — | #32 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Timberlane Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.