Compare towns
Appleton vs Danforth vs Wayne 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%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Penobscot has the most kids (18% 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 | Danforth | Wayne | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
666Lowest |
1,101 |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Wayne 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Penobscot 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 |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$983±$554 14% 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 |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 38 | 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.