Compare towns
Union vs Brunswick 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).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Brunswick | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
17,652Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+12.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
37.9±2.2Lowest 15% 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% |
16.1%±2.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Brunswick 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% |
51.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
15.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$70,722±$5k 5% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Union and Brunswick 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 |
$363,200±$18kHighest 22% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,465±$100Highest 29% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
| Brunswick and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
$4,477Highest 47% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
58.8%±9.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brunswick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Brunswick 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 | — | #30 of 133 in ME | — |
| 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.