Compare towns
Appleton vs Penobscot vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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 | Penobscot | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,154Lowest |
1,501Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| 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 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru 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 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Peru 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 28% below ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| 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% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 56 |
| 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 |
ME 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.