Compare towns
Appleton vs Cavendish vs Newburgh 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%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Newburgh has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Cavendish | Newburgh | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,242 |
1,475Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.8±5.7 18% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Newburgh and Cavendish 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% |
23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$76,750±$10k 5% below U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Cavendish and Newburgh 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. |
$285,100±$40k 14% below U.S. |
$244,600±$20k 26% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
$950±$219Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Appleton 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. |
$3,948Highest 27% above U.S. |
$2,748 12% below U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±13.9 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.