Compare towns
Union vs Westbrook vs Appleton
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).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Westbrook | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
20,775Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+16.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
37.4±1Lowest 17% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
| Appleton and Union 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% |
18.5%±2.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Westbrook 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% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest 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% ME: 36.2% |
41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$85,038±$7kHighest 14% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Westbrook 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 10% below ME |
$383,300±$19kHighest 29% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$1,392±$74Highest 22% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
| Westbrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 8% above ME |
$4,005Highest 32% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
46.1%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±2.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Westbrook 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 | — | #115 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Westbrook Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Westbrook 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 |
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.