Compare towns
Union vs Woolwich 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).
Woolwich has the highest household income ($102k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($195k 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 | Woolwich | Appleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
3,158Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
55.8±5.5Highest 25% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
| Woolwich 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 ME: 18.1% |
15%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Woolwich 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% ME: 36.2% |
52.9%Highest 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% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 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±$9k 8% above ME |
$102,175±$26kHighest 37% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
| Woolwich 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±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$254,500±$59k 14% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
| Union and Woolwich 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 |
— | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,036±$322Lowest 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 |
$2,433 20% 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% |
64.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Woolwich 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% |
13.3% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 20% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±6.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Washington 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 | — | #92 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.