Compare towns
Appleton vs Guildhall vs Westfield 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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Westfield has the most kids (27.1% under 18).
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 | Guildhall | Westfield | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
371Lowest |
536 |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44±19.9 13% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% 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% |
22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Westfield and Guildhall 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% |
26.1%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Westfield 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% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Westfield 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. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$72,500±$30k 10% below U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Westfield 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. |
$321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$301,400±$47k 9% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$863±$187 39% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Appleton 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. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,388 41% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±71.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school 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.