Compare towns
Baldwin vs Penobscot vs Dixmont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baldwin has the youngest population (median age 50.6).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Dixmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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 | Baldwin | Penobscot | Dixmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170 |
1,154Lowest |
1,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6Lowest 13% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
50.9±4.7 14% above ME |
| Penobscot and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$75,952±$14kHighest about the ME average |
| Dixmont and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$38k 11% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$190,700±$22kLowest 36% below ME |
| Penobscot and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 32% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 minHighest 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 19 |
| High school 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.