Compare towns
Union vs Hope vs Appleton vs Bowdoin
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).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Hope | Appleton | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,748 |
1,360Lowest |
3,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
30.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2 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±$9k 8% above ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
| Bowdoin and Hope 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 |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
| Hope and Bowdoin 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 |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 | Hope Public Schools | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.