Compare towns
Union vs Unity 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).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Appleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,858 |
1,360Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
| Appleton and Washington 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
22.1% 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% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$195,200±$36kLowest 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,036±$322 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 |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer 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 |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.