Compare towns
Appleton vs Gorham vs Hampden 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 affordable homes ($236k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Hampden | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
18,300Highest |
7,896 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
41±2.9 8% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest 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% |
44.3% ME: 36.2% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$111,959±$13k 50% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
| Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$301,300±$38k about the ME average |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,286±$317 13% above ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
| Gorham and Hampden 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$3,694 22% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 22 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— |
| 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.