Compare towns
Union vs Chittenden vs Appleton vs Washington
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%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k 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 | Chittenden | Appleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,318Lowest |
1,360 |
1,624 |
| 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% |
+4.3% 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. |
48.2±6.7 24% 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% |
14.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$59,861±$17k 26% 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±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$195,200±$36kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,036±$322Lowest 27% 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 | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,346Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,286Lowest 27% below 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% |
55.3%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest 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% |
92.5% 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. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% 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% |
14.6%±5.9 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 | 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 |
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.