Compare towns

Union vs Hampton Falls 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 kids (24.9% under 18).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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.

MeasureUnionHampton FallsAppletonBowdoin
People
Population
2,663
2,328
1,360Lowest
3,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%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.
49.5±7.3Highest
27% above U.S.
49.2±7.4
26% above U.S.
44.3±10
14% above U.S.
Hampton Falls 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%
19.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±6.2
U.S.: 22%
Union and Hampton Falls 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%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.1%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Appleton and Hampton Falls 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%
54.5%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%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hampton Falls 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
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$91,239±$13k
13% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,600±$42k
20% below U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$235,600±$33kLowest
29% below U.S.
$292,800±$71k
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,179±$452
17% below U.S.
$1,852±$475Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,104±$82Lowest
22% below U.S.
—
Hampton Falls 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% 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%
27.2%±22.7
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±42.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Hampton Falls 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%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%
86.3%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.
1981
1 yr 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.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
15.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±7
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton Falls 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 — — — #28 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 40/MSAD 40 Hampton Falls 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.