Compare towns
Appleton vs Penobscot vs Smithfield vs Sullivan
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 expensive homes ($296k median).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Smithfield | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,154 |
856Lowest |
1,246 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
| Smithfield 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 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan 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 28% below ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$222,000±$33kLowest 25% below ME |
| Penobscot and Smithfield 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 |
$1,109±$358 about the ME average |
$883±$114Lowest 22% below ME |
| Penobscot and Smithfield 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 |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,866 6% below ME |
$2,228 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Lowest 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield 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 | Penobscot Public Schools | — | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.