Compare towns
Union vs Croydon vs Appleton vs Bowdoin
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 people working from home (15.9%).
Croydon has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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.
| Measure | Union | Croydon | Appleton | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
798Lowest |
1,360 |
3,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±9.1 11% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Bowdoin 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% |
19%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Bowdoin 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% |
27.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Croydon 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Croydon 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 |
$98,333±$21kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
| Croydon and Bowdoin 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. |
$317,300±$33kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
| Croydon and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$991±$336Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Union and Appleton 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. |
$3,806Highest 22% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±75.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Bowdoin 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 | — | — | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Croydon School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| 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.