Compare towns
Union vs Deer Isle 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 kids (24.9% under 18).
Deer Isle has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Deer Isle | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
2,470 |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
52.6±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
| Deer Isle 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% |
14.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% ME: 36.2% |
35.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$62,284±$15k 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Union and Deer Isle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$308,300±$42kHighest 4% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
| Deer Isle and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,909±$927Highest 68% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
| Deer Isle and Union 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 |
$1,890Lowest 38% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25.4%±17.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Deer Isle 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% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
20 minLowest 17% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
22%±9.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Deer Isle and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Deer Isle-Stonington CSD | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Deer Isle-Stonington High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.