Compare towns
Union vs Danforth vs Springfield vs Appleton
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 people working from home (15.9%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Springfield has the most homeowners (96.2%).
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 | Danforth | Springfield | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
666 |
310Lowest |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
52.4±7 17% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
| Danforth and Springfield 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.6%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Union 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
| Union and Springfield 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$122,500±$28k 59% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% 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 |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
$1,270 58% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
— | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Danforth 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
28 minLowest 15% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
| High school 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.