Compare towns
Penobscot vs Appleton vs Mapleton vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Penobscot | Appleton | Mapleton | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,154Lowest |
1,360 |
1,884Highest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.4±5.6 17% above ME |
| Penobscot and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Penobscot 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%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
30.9%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Surry 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
38.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Surry 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±$33k 21% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$296,300±$36k about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Surry 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±$82 3% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$969±$129 15% 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 | $1,852 39% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,903 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 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% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5 ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Surry 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Surry 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 |
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.