Compare towns
Union vs Milbridge vs Appleton vs Waldoboro
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 highest household income ($81k).
Milbridge has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Waldoboro has the most renters (21.4% rent).
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 | Milbridge | Appleton | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,222Lowest |
1,360 |
5,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
50.3±6.2Highest 12% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.1±4.6 12% above ME |
| Milbridge 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 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1 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±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$60,536±$16k 19% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$69,107±$8k 8% below ME |
| Union and Waldoboro 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 |
$240,400±$31k 19% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
| 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 4% above ME |
$619±$186 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$348±$153Lowest 69% 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 |
$2,022Lowest 33% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,861 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Milbridge 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% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.1% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 min 3% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge 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 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | 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 |
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.