Compare towns
Appleton vs Penobscot vs Unity vs Strong
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%).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Unity | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,154Lowest |
1,375Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong 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% |
32%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Penobscot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Strong 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. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Unity 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 29% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Unity and Penobscot 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. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong 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 | Unity School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.