Compare towns
Appleton vs Eustis vs Penobscot vs Liberty
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%).
Eustis has the shortest commute (12 min average).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Eustis | Penobscot | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
453Lowest |
1,154 |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
59.1±14Highest 32% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
40.5±6.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Eustis 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 ME: 18.1% |
15.5%±13.4 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Liberty 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% |
38.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Eustis and Penobscot 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% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±4.8 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Eustis 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 |
$32,118±$11kLowest 57% below ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$71,146±$15kHighest 5% below ME |
| Liberty 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 |
$262,200±$51k 12% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$229,600±$31kLowest 23% below ME |
| Penobscot and Eustis 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 |
$916±$547 20% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| 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 |
$1,542Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
66%±37.8 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16% ME: 10.7% |
14.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
61.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
12 minLowest 52% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.5%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Eustis Public Schools | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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 |
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.