Compare towns
Union vs Phippsburg vs Appleton vs Pittston
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).
Phippsburg has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Phippsburg | Appleton | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
2,238 |
1,360Lowest |
3,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+7.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
54.3±6.3Highest 21% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.4±5.9Lowest 8% below ME |
| Phippsburg 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% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±7.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Pittston 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% |
34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±6.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Phippsburg 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% ME: 36.2% |
37.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±4.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Pittston 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 |
$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$86,614±$18k 16% above ME |
| Phippsburg and Pittston 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 |
$335,800±$47kHighest 13% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$238,700±$66k 20% below ME |
| Phippsburg 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 |
$1,022±$346Lowest 10% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,080±$593 5% 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 |
$2,034 33% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,909Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
35.5%±98.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
57.6%±34.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Pittston 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% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.8% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.7%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Phippsburg 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 | — | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| 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.