Compare towns
Appleton vs Weathersfield 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%).
Weathersfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Weathersfield | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,856Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
48.3±5.4Lowest 24% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% 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% |
22%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Weathersfield 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% |
25.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest 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% |
37.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weathersfield 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. |
$83,095±$12kHighest about the U.S. average |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Weathersfield 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±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$252,700±$50k 24% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Weathersfield 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. |
$1,401±$61Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,540Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
80.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Weathersfield 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% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±14.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weathersfield 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 | — | #21 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Weathersfield School District | 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 |
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.