Compare towns
Unity vs Washington vs Appleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Washington | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,858Highest |
1,624 |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
| Appleton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,510 17% below ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.8%±13Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.