Compare towns
Union vs Middlebury 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).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Waldoboro has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Appleton | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
9,175Highest |
1,360Lowest |
5,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
55.4%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% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$86,169±$16kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$69,107±$8k 14% below U.S. |
| Middlebury 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 20% below U.S. |
$409,700±$30kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$274,900±$39k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,156±$113 18% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$348±$153Lowest 75% below U.S. |
| Union and Middlebury 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. |
$6,868Highest 120% 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% |
50.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Middlebury 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% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.