Compare towns
Appleton vs Middlesex vs Penobscot vs Orland
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Orland has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Middlesex | Penobscot | Orland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,943Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
50.6±4.2 30% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Orland 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Orland 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orland and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$69,348±$29k 14% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Orland 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$277,100±$20k 17% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$177 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Orland 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$2,089 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
45%±23.8 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±11.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.