Compare towns
Union vs Thomaston vs Appleton vs Washington
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 highest household income ($81k).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k 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.
| Measure | Union | Thomaston | Appleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
2,769Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
| Thomaston 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% |
19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Thomaston 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% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Thomaston 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 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 |
$56,435±$13k 24% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
| Union and Washington 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 |
$271,700±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
| Thomaston 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 |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,036±$322Lowest 9% below ME |
| Thomaston 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 |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Thomaston 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% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Washington 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 | — | #99 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 13 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.