Compare towns
Union vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Waldoboro has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Pelham | Appleton | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
14,449Highest |
1,360Lowest |
5,253 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%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. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above 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% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
40%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% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham 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 about the U.S. average |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$69,107±$8k 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$274,900±$39k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$348±$153Lowest 75% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Union 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% 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% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | — | #48 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Pelham School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
— | 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.