Compare towns
Union vs Barton vs Appleton
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 highest household income ($81k).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Barton | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
730Lowest |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
24.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
| 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 5% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.