Compare towns
Union vs Unity vs Washburn vs Appleton
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 people working from home (15.9%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Unity | Washburn | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,375 |
1,355Lowest |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7 24% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Washburn 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 |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6k 30% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Unity and Union 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. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
| Unity 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 17% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Unity School District | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.