Compare towns
Appleton vs Readfield 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%).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Newburgh has the youngest population (median age 45.8).
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 | Readfield | Penobscot | Newburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,651Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
0% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
45.8±5.7Lowest 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% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
18.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Newburgh and Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±2.4Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest 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% |
3.3%±2 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 |
$86,504±$8kHighest 16% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$76,750±$10k about the ME average |
| Readfield 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±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$326,400±$20kHighest 10% above ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
$244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
| Readfield and Penobscot 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 |
$1,125±$844 about the ME average |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
| Penobscot and Readfield 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 |
$3,392 12% 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% |
31.3%±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% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 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 |
30 min 20% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Readfield and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 38 | Penobscot Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.