Compare towns
Appleton vs Goshen vs Unity 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Goshen has the most kids (26.8% under 18).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Goshen | Unity | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,042Lowest |
1,375Highest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
54.1±16.1 39% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
| Unity and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
26.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Goshen and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Unity 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. |
$70,417±$26k 13% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Goshen 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. |
$255,600±$53k 23% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Unity 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. |
$1,938±$416Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,625±$804 15% above U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Goshen and Unity 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. |
$4,760 53% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.2%±74.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest 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% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 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 | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | Unity School District | 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 | 4 photos → | 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.