Compare towns
Unity vs Appleton vs Bowdoin vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Bowdoin has the most expensive homes ($293k median).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Appleton | Bowdoin | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,375 |
1,360Lowest |
3,188 |
4,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Unity and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlestown and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$91,239±$13kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Bowdoin and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,099±$85Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bowdoin and Appleton 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 | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.