Compare towns
Appleton vs Berlin vs Union vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Berlin | Union | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,880Highest |
2,663 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin 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 34% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Union and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Union 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.