Compare towns
Appleton vs Dummer vs Pittston 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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Dummer has the most homeowners (94.2%).
Pittston has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Dummer | Pittston | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
299Lowest |
3,093Highest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummer 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston 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. |
$91,250±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$86,614±$18k 7% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Dummer and Pittston 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. |
$242,200±$51k 27% below U.S. |
$238,700±$66k 28% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Dummer 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. |
— | $1,080±$593Lowest 24% 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 | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,898 7% below U.S. |
$1,909 39% below U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6 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% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #123 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | 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.