Compare towns
Union vs Lyman vs Appleton
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).
Lyman has the most expensive homes ($360k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Lyman | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
4,612Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
| Lyman 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 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest 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 |
$87,284±$14kHighest 17% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Lyman and Union 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 |
$360,400±$44kHighest 22% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,063±$522Lowest 7% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
| 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 8% above ME |
$2,717Lowest 11% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 20% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman 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 | — | #40 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.