What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).

Penobscot has the most kids (18% under 18).

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	Bartlett	Penobscot
People
Population	3,281Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S.	53.4±5.7Lowest 37% above U.S.
	Bartlett and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	32%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bartlett and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Penobscot and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S.	$63,194±$14kHighest 22% below U.S.
	Penobscot and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,400±$78kHighest 12% above U.S.	$296,400±$58kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Bartlett and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,676±$97Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,141±$33Lowest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,512Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.5%±37.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Penobscot and Bartlett 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	#74 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Bartlett School District	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.