Compare towns
Appleton vs Webster vs Strong 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%).
Webster has the highest household income ($107k).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Webster | Strong | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,227Highest |
1,249 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% 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% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Strong 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% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Webster 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 34% below U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Webster and Penobscot 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. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Webster and Penobscot 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest 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% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | 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.