Compare towns
Appleton vs Hampden vs Mapleton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Hampden has the highest household income ($112k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Hampden | Mapleton | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
7,896Highest |
1,884 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
41.8±6 7% 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% |
25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Mapleton 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 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% |
45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Mapleton 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 |
$111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
| Hampden and Mapleton 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 |
$301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Hampden 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 |
$1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
| Hampden 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 |
$3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.2%±15.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Penobscot 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 | — | #6 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 22 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Hampden Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— | — |
| 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.