Compare towns
Appleton vs Avon vs Weld vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Avon has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
Weld has the oldest population (median age 64).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 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 | Appleton | Avon | Weld | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
359Lowest |
459 |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | — | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
47.1±5.1Lowest 5% above ME |
64±6.7Highest 43% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
| Weld and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±6.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Avon and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
44.4%±12.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Weld and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±4.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$63,125±$32k 16% below ME |
$62,083±$11k 17% below ME |
$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME |
| Penobscot and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$141,700±$42kLowest 52% below ME |
$268,600±$17k 9% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Weld are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$465±$30Lowest 59% 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 | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,469 52% below ME |
$1,308Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
90%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Avon and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
42 minHighest 71% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±8.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±8.4 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Weld are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.