Compare towns
Appleton vs Temple vs Penobscot vs Strong
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%).
Temple has the most kids (32.8% under 18).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
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 | Temple | Penobscot | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
824Lowest |
1,154 |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
34±14Lowest 24% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| 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% |
32.8%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
15%±6.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 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% |
13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Temple 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 28% below ME |
$56,087±$2k 25% below ME |
$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Penobscot and Temple 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 |
$210,200±$79k 29% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| 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 3% below ME |
$1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Temple and Penobscot 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 |
$2,367 22% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
73.3%±70.5 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±8.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 |
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.