Compare towns
Union vs Brewer vs Limerick vs Appleton
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).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Brewer | Limerick | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
9,652Highest |
3,400 |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
40.1±4.8Lowest 10% below ME |
40.4±9.2 10% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Brewer 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% |
22.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Brewer 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% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer 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 |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Limerick 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 |
$245,300±$21k 17% below ME |
$269,400±$29kHighest 9% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
| Limerick and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,086±$54Lowest 5% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
| Limerick and Union 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 |
$3,374 11% above ME |
$2,520Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3 ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brewer 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% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Limerick 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 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Brewer Public Schools | — | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— | — |
| 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.