What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castine has the most expensive homes ($604k median).

Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).

Castine is a college town. 47.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Castine	Penobscot
People
Population	1,362Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	21.2±0.7Lowest 53% below ME	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME
Kids under 18	9.5%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%	18%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Penobscot and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	74.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	47.7%±7.7Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$26kHighest 52% above ME	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$114kHighest 103% above ME	$296,400±$58kLowest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$104Lowest about the ME average	$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average
	Penobscot and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,250Highest 40% above ME	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.3%±56Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.4%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	14 minLowest 42% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	11.7%±10.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Penobscot and Castine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Castine Public Schools	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.