Compare towns
Appleton vs Springfield vs Penobscot 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%).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Springfield | Penobscot | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,154 |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9 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. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% 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. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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 |
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.