Compare towns
Appleton vs Dummerston vs Penobscot vs Union
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Dummerston | Penobscot | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,090 |
1,154Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Union 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. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Penobscot 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. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Union 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. |
$4,536Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 |
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.