Compare towns
Union vs Jay 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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Waldoboro has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Jay | Appleton | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
471Lowest |
1,360 |
5,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.1±4.6 29% above U.S. |
| Jay and Waldoboro 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Waldoboro 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% |
45.1%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% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$69,107±$8k 14% below U.S. |
| Union and Jay 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$274,900±$39kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Waldoboro and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$348±$153Lowest 75% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,588Highest 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% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Jay 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 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. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.