Compare towns
Appleton vs Berwick vs Penobscot vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Appleton | Berwick | Penobscot | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
8,175Highest |
1,154Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Penobscot and Appleton 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% |
22.7%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Berwick 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% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Appleton 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% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$94,771±$24kHighest 27% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Berwick 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 21% below ME |
$369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
| Berwick 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 |
$1,452±$430Highest 27% above ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
| Berwick and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,436Highest 46% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick 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 | — | #101 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 |
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.