Compare towns
Union vs Cherryfield vs Appleton vs Warren
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).
Cherryfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Warren has the shortest commute (23 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 | Cherryfield | Appleton | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
809Lowest |
1,360 |
4,932Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Appleton 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% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield 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% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Warren 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±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$74,616±$21k about the ME average |
| Union and Warren 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 |
$195,800±$53kLowest 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$232,700±$32k 22% 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 |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,125±$456 about the ME average |
| Union and Warren 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 |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,832 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Cherryfield 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% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield 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 | — | — | — | #120 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Cherryfield Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 |
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.