Compare towns
Appleton vs Cushing vs Rome 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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
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 | Cushing | Rome | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,460Highest |
1,215 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+13.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
48.3±9.2Lowest 8% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above 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% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Rome 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% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.7%±9.1 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest 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% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
39.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±4.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Rome 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 28% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$77,639±$25k 4% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
| Cushing and Rome 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 |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$329,300±$36k 11% above ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,150±$56 about the ME average |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
| Cushing and Rome 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 |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,829Lowest 40% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
54.2%±59.8 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% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.3% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
91.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing 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 | RSU 13 | — | 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 |
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.