Compare towns

Union vs Chittenden vs Appleton

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).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
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.

MeasureUnionChittendenAppleton
People
Population
2,663Highest
1,318Lowest
1,360
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
50.8±6.3Highest
31% above U.S.
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
Chittenden 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
U.S.: 22%
13.8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Appleton and Chittenden 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%
51.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Chittenden 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
about the U.S. average
$106,250±$28kHighest
32% above U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
Chittenden and Union 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.
$346,800±$35kHighest
4% above U.S.
$235,600±$33kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,179±$452Highest
17% below U.S.
$1,125±$488
20% below U.S.
$1,104±$82Lowest
22% below U.S.
Union and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,276Lowest
5% above U.S.
$5,346Highest
71% above U.S.
$3,588
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.6%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Union 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%
6.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
15.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Union and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district RSU 40/MSAD 40 Barstow Unified Union School District #49 Appleton Public Schools
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.