Compare towns
Appleton vs Perry vs Penobscot vs Newburgh
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%).
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Perry | Penobscot | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
744Lowest |
1,154 |
1,475Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.8% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
45.5±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
45.8±5.7 about the ME average |
| 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% |
24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Newburgh 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% |
21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4 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% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
29.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Newburgh 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 |
$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Perry and Newburgh 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 |
$196,400±$13kLowest 34% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Penobscot and Newburgh 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 |
$950±$219Lowest 17% 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 |
$3,132 3% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,748 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±13.9 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% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
26 min 6% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry 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 | Perry Public Schools | Penobscot Public Schools | — |
| 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 | 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.