Compare towns
Union vs Morrill vs Hope 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).
Morrill has the most affordable homes ($214k median).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Morrill | Hope | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
914Lowest |
1,748 |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
39.8±6.1Lowest 11% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
| 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% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest 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% |
18.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest 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% |
31.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 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 |
$74,250±$18k about the ME average |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Hope 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 |
$214,000±$18kLowest 28% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$975±$891Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,104±$82 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 | $3,276 8% above ME |
$2,472Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
34.3%±45.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.3% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.5% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
29 min 16% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
5.9%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 71 | Hope Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.