Compare towns
Union vs Strafford vs Appleton vs Bowdoin
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Strafford | Appleton | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
1,372 |
1,360Lowest |
3,188Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Union and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | — | — | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Strafford School District | 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 |
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.