Compare towns
Waldoboro vs Appleton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waldoboro has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Waldoboro | Appleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,253Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.1±4.6Highest 12% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 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 | $69,107±$8k 8% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,900±$39kHighest 7% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Waldoboro and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $348±$153Lowest 69% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,861Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±15.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 3% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union 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 | #55 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Medomak Valley High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.