Compare towns
Appleton vs Wilder 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
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Wilder | Strong | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
3,087Highest |
1,249 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest 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. |
45.5±8.9Lowest 17% 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strong 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% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Wilder 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±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Wilder 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. |
$1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S. |
$920±$276Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Wilder 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. |
$5,505Highest 76% 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% |
39.9%±17.2 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% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer 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. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 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 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.