Compare towns
Union vs Steep Falls vs Appleton vs Waldoboro
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%).
Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Steep Falls | Appleton | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,861 |
1,360Lowest |
5,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
44.1±6.5 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Steep Falls 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% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
| 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
29.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$80,280±$33k 7% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$69,107±$8k 8% below ME |
| Union and Steep Falls 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 |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
| Steep Falls 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 |
$3,273 8% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,861Lowest 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Steep Falls 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% |
7.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest 3% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Appleton 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 | — | — | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| 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.