Compare towns
Appleton vs Penobscot vs Sumner
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).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k 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 | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,154 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Sumner 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Sumner 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±$14kHighest 15% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Penobscot and Sumner 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% 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±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
— |
| 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 |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Appleton 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% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 10 |
| 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.