Compare towns

Union vs York 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).
York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.

MeasureUnionYorkAppleton
People
Population
2,663
13,986Highest
1,360Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+9.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+7.2%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% below ME
49.5±5.2Highest
10% above ME
49.2±7.4
10% above ME
York 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%
21.1%±3.3
ME: 18.1%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Union and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
27.9%±3.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
26.1%±9.3
ME: 22.4%
York 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%
53.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.1%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±1.3Lowest
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±$9k
8% above ME
$121,250±$25kHighest
62% above ME
$53,618±$19kLowest
28% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,600±$42k
10% below ME
$636,400±$30kHighest
115% above ME
$235,600±$33kLowest
21% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,179±$452
4% above ME
$1,490±$336Highest
31% above ME
$1,104±$82Lowest
3% below ME
York 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
$4,658Highest
53% above ME
$3,588
18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
24.6%±19.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
56.5%±10.8
ME: 48.4%
85.4%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
Appleton and York 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%
5.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.7%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
81.5%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
20% above ME
24 minLowest
4% below ME
30 minHighest
23% above ME
Work from home
15.9%±5.3
ME: 15.9%
26%±3.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #13 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 40/MSAD 40 York Public Schools Appleton Public Schools
High school in town None in town York High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.6
—
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.