Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Penobscot vs Rumney
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 most kids (22.2% under 18).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Rumney has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Mapleton | Penobscot | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,884Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3 14% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Rumney 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% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Rumney 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. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$79,444±$21k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Rumney 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±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$309,800±$37kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Rumney 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 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,064±$100 25% 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. |
$1,852 41% below U.S. |
$4,716Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Penobscot Public Schools | Rumney School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.