Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Gorham 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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Mapleton | Gorham | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,884 |
2,682Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Gorham 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$838±$83 41% 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,852 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.