Compare towns
Appleton vs Windham vs Newburgh 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 the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Newburgh has the most renters (18.8% rent).
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 | Windham | Newburgh | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
16,038Highest |
1,475 |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±5.7 18% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.4 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newburgh and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$76,750±$10k 5% below U.S. |
$63,194±$14k 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$244,600±$20k 26% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$950±$219Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,748 12% below U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±13.9Lowest 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 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 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Windham School District | — | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.