Compare towns
Appleton vs Washington vs Wheelock 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Washington has the highest household income ($66k).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k 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 | Washington | Wheelock | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
1,056 |
717Lowest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 26% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1 36% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Washington 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% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Wheelock 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% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Wheelock 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% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Wheelock 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. |
$66,103±$8kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20k 20% below U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Washington and Wheelock 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. |
$217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% 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. |
$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
— | $1,141±$33Highest 19% 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 | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Penobscot Public Schools |
| 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.