Compare towns
Union vs Bridgewater 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).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($155k 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 | Bridgewater | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
484Lowest |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
48.8±8 9% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
| Appleton and Bridgewater 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% |
17.1%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bridgewater 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 8% above ME |
$65,417±$15k 12% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Union and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$154,900±$78kLowest 48% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
| 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 4% above ME |
$768±$116Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% 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 |
$1,417Lowest 53% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Bridgewater 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| 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 |
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.