Compare towns

Union vs Ogunquit vs Kennebunk 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Kennebunk has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).

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.

MeasureUnionOgunquitKennebunkAppleton
People
Population
2,663
1,379
6,221Highest
1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+76.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+10.8%
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% below ME
62.8±4.8Highest
40% above ME
54.3±7.2
21% above ME
49.2±7.4
10% above ME
Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
18.1%±4.2
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7
ME: 18.1%
Union and Kennebunk 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
30.9%±4.5
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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%
63.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
52%
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.7%±2.4
ME: 5.8%
Ogunquit and Appleton 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
$114,259±$56kHighest
53% above ME
$95,169±$21k
27% above ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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
$875,700±$79kHighest
195% above ME
$452,800±$17k
53% above ME
$235,600±$33kLowest
21% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,179±$452
4% above ME
—
$1,466±$261Highest
29% above ME
$1,104±$82Lowest
3% below ME
Kennebunk and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,276Lowest
8% above ME
$4,473
47% above ME
$4,771Highest
57% above ME
$3,588
18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.6%±19.8
ME: 48.4%
0%±61.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
40.3%±13.2
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and Kennebunk 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%
3.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
11.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
ME: 74.3%
94.3%Highest
ME: 74.3%
73.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1978Lowest
1 yr newer than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
20% above ME
26 min
7% above ME
23 minLowest
8% below ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
Work from home
15.9%±5.3
ME: 15.9%
43.3%±12.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
36.6%±10.2
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 — — #9 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 40/MSAD 40 — — Appleton Public Schools
High school 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.