What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beals has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Penobscot has grown the fastest since 2010 (-10.1%).

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	Beals	Penobscot
People
Population	498Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48±15.6Lowest 7% above ME	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME
	Penobscot and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±6.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	18%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Penobscot and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.1%±5.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Penobscot and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Beals and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,063±$14kHighest 14% below ME	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME
	Beals and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$45kLowest 13% below ME	$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average
	Penobscot and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$378Lowest 20% below ME	$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average
	Penobscot and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,580Highest 15% below ME	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 17% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	17.6%±10.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Penobscot and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Beals Public Schools	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.