Compare towns
Appleton vs Baldwin vs Milbridge vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Baldwin has the highest household income ($68k).
Milbridge has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
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 | Baldwin | Milbridge | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,170 |
1,222 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+1.6% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
50.3±6.2 12% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Penobscot and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Milbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Appleton 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 |
$68,045±$8kHighest 9% below ME |
$60,536±$16k 19% below ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
| Baldwin and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$263,200±$38k 11% below ME |
$240,400±$31k 19% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Baldwin 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 |
— | $619±$186Lowest 46% 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 |
$2,540 16% below ME |
$2,022 33% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Penobscot 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.1% ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 32% above ME |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 37/MSAD 37 | 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 | 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.