Compare towns
Appleton vs Jackson vs Penobscot vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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 | Jackson | Penobscot | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
567Lowest |
1,154 |
1,246 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
47.1±15 5% 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% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Appleton 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 |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
| Jackson and Penobscot 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 |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME |
| Penobscot and Appleton 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 |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Jackson 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 | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.