Compare towns
Union vs Topsfield 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 most kids (24.9% under 18).
Topsfield has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
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 | Topsfield | Appleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
214Lowest |
1,360 |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
— | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
63.5±4.9Highest 42% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±10.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
44.9%±12.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Topsfield 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% |
14.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±5.3Lowest 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 |
$48,125±$16kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 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±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$141,700±$32kLowest 52% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
— | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,036±$322Lowest 9% 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 |
$957Lowest 68% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washington 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% |
13.1% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 20% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | East Range CSD | 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.