Compare towns
Appleton vs Newfields vs Strong 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Newfields | Strong | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,023Highest |
1,249 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Newfields School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | 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.