Compare towns
Perry vs Appleton vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($143k median).
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 | Perry | Appleton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 744Lowest |
1,360Highest |
801 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.6±4.6Highest 11% above ME |
| Pembroke and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
32.5%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Pembroke and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.9%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Pembroke and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$60,132±$8k 20% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$13k 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$142,800±$25kLowest 52% below ME |
| Appleton and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$881±$333Lowest 23% below ME |
| Appleton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,132 3% above ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,966Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
59.6%±45 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
13.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 6% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Perry Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Pembroke Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.