Compare towns
Union vs White River Junction vs Appleton vs Bowdoin
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 kids (24.9% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Bowdoin has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | White River Junction | Appleton | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
3,364Highest |
1,360Lowest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Bowdoin 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9k about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Bowdoin 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. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71kHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin and White River Junction 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. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| White River Junction and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and White River Junction 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 | — | — | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school 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 |
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.