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 most renters (32.3% rent).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | 1,360 |
9,084Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% 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. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Springfield 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. |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Appleton 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. |
$963±$100 32% 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. |
$4,807Highest 54% 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% |
49.6%±15.6 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.