Compare towns
Union vs Danforth vs Washburn 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 highest household income ($81k).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Washburn has the shortest commute (21 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 | Danforth | Washburn | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
666Lowest |
1,355 |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%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 |
48.2±7.7 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
| Danforth 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Washburn 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% |
24%±3.7 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% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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 |
$56,196±$6k 25% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$112,900±$14k 62% 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±$29 45% below ME |
$482±$62Lowest 58% 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 |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,571 48% 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% |
33.3%±24.7 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% |
12.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9 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 | — | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.