Compare towns
Appleton vs Cherryfield vs Steuben 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%).
Cherryfield has the most renters (33.2% rent).
Steuben has the highest household income ($76k).
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 | Cherryfield | Steuben | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
809Lowest |
1,388Highest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Steuben 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% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Steuben 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±$19k 28% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
| Steuben 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±$33k 21% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
$173,900±$32kLowest 41% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Appleton 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 |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$678±$319 40% 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 |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$2,029 33% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
26.3%±87.8Lowest 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% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
28 min 14% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield 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 | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 24 | 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 |
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.