Compare towns
Union vs Epping vs Bowdoin vs Appleton
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 kids (24.9% under 18).
Epping 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 | Epping | Bowdoin | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
7,430Highest |
3,188 |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Epping 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
— | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Epping and Union 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Union 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #28 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Epping School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.