Compare towns
Appleton vs Warner vs Penobscot vs Hope
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).
Warner has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Warner | Penobscot | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,959Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
43.7±4Lowest 12% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% 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% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Highest 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% |
20.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 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% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warner and Appleton 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. |
$94,022±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Warner 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. |
$353,100±$22k 6% above U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Hope and Warner 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. |
$1,219±$123Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Penobscot Public Schools | Hope 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.