Compare towns
Union vs Exeter vs Appleton vs Waldoboro
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Waldoboro has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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 | Exeter | Appleton | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
16,151Highest |
1,360Lowest |
5,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.1±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Waldoboro 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$69,107±$8k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$274,900±$39k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$348±$153Lowest 75% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,861Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.