Compare towns
Union vs Calais vs Appleton vs Pittston
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).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Pittston has the shortest commute (26 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 | Calais | Appleton | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,713 |
1,360Lowest |
3,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Calais 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% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Calais 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% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Pittston 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$86,614±$18k 7% above U.S. |
| Calais and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$238,700±$66k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,080±$593Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Calais and Union 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. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,909Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Pittston 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% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais 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 | — | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.