Compare towns
Union vs Chapman vs Appleton vs Hope
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 youngest population (median age 41.6).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
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 | Chapman | Appleton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
388Lowest |
1,360 |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Union 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% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman 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% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman 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 |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
| Chapman and Hope 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 |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
— | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
| Hope 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 |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Union 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 | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.