Compare towns
Union vs Newfield vs Appleton vs Bowdoin
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 people working from home (15.9%).
Newfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Newfield | Appleton | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,580 |
1,360Lowest |
3,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
52.8±8.1Highest 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
44.3±10 about the ME average |
| Newfield 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% |
12.6%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Bowdoin 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% |
26.9%±6Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Newfield 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% |
21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
30.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$57,188±$20k 23% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,239±$13kHighest 22% above ME |
| Bowdoin 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 |
$318,100±$27kHighest 7% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$292,800±$71k about the ME average |
| Newfield and Bowdoin 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 |
— | $1,104±$82Lowest 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 |
$2,402Lowest 21% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,375 11% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±42.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Newfield 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% |
10.5% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
96.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 20% above ME |
49 minHighest 98% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Bowdoin 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 | — | — | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| 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.