Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Wakefield 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 most kids (22.2% under 18).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
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 | Wakefield | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,884 |
5,405Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% 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. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Wakefield 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% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 34% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Wakefield 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 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43kHighest about the U.S. average |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
$1,852 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Wakefield 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 | — | — | #118 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wakefield School District | Penobscot Public Schools |
| 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.