Compare towns
Appleton vs Unity vs Hope vs Penobscot
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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Penobscot has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Unity | Hope | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,375 |
1,748Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
| Unity and Penobscot 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hope 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Penobscot 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Hope 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. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Hope and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Unity and Hope 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope 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 | Unity School District | Hope Public Schools | Penobscot Public Schools |
| 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.