Compare towns
Union vs Weston vs Danforth 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).
Weston has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k 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 | Weston | Danforth | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
275Lowest |
452 |
1,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
55.1±14Highest 23% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
| Weston and Danforth 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% |
14.9%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Danforth 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% |
23.3% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±4.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest 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 |
$58,942±$7k 21% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$171,700±$26k 42% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% 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 |
— | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% 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 |
$1,500Lowest 51% below ME |
— | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Weston and Appleton 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% |
19.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±12.7 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | — | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school 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.