Compare towns
Appleton vs Cornish vs Chapman 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 the most renters (17.4% rent).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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 | Cornish | Chapman | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,816Highest |
388Lowest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Chapman 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% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman 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. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Chapman and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Cornish 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. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Penobscot 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. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,852 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Cornish School District | — | 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 |
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.