Compare towns
Appleton vs Reading vs Penobscot vs Liberty
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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Liberty has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Reading | Penobscot | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
699Lowest |
1,154 |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Liberty and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Reading 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 34% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Reading and Liberty 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$229,600±$31kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Reading 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Appleton 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$2,434 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4Lowest 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% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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.