What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brooklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).

Penobscot has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brooklin	Penobscot
People
Population	869Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±3.7Lowest 10% above ME	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME
	Penobscot and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	18%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Penobscot and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Penobscot and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,750±$8kHighest 8% below ME	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME
	Brooklin and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$339,400±$90kHighest 14% above ME	$296,400±$58kLowest about the ME average
	Brooklin and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,236±$137Highest 9% above ME	$1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average
	Brooklin and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,792Lowest 41% below ME	$1,852Highest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.5%±25Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	16.5%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Penobscot and Brooklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Brooklin 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.