What stands out worked out from the figures below

Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Penobscot	Appleton
People
Population	1,154Lowest	1,360Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME
	Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±6Highest ME: 18.1%	15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±9.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	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+	32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Appleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME
	Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average	$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME
	Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average	$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME
	Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME	$3,588Highest 18% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9%	11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Penobscot Public Schools	Appleton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.