Compare towns
Appleton vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Penobscot has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
897Lowest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Penobscot 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% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Penobscot and Appleton 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% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Jackson 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| 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±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Penobscot 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Jackson 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 | 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.