Compare towns
Appleton vs Exeter vs Hope 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 renters (17.4% rent).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Exeter | Hope | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,093Lowest |
1,748Highest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Penobscot and Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
| Hope and Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Hope 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 |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
| Hope and Penobscot 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
92.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 | — | Hope Public Schools | 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.