Compare towns
Acton vs Appleton vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Penobscot has the most kids (18% 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 | Acton | Appleton | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Highest |
1,360 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2 18% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Penobscot and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
| Acton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Acton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680 12% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 64% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Penobscot 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.