Compare towns
Union vs Dunbarton 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%).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
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 | Dunbarton | Appleton | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
3,097 |
1,360Lowest |
3,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunbarton 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 |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Union and Dunbarton 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. |
$8,233Highest 164% 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% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Dunbarton 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% |
3%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% |
95.1%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. |
1990 10 yrs 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 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Dunbarton 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 | — | #33 of 120 in NH | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Dunbarton 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.