Compare towns
Appleton vs Meredith vs Union 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).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Meredith | Union | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
6,758Highest |
2,663 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Penobscot 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union 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. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Union 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Union and Meredith 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. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Penobscot 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.