Compare towns
Danforth vs Danforth vs Penobscot vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Strong has the youngest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Danforth | Danforth | Penobscot | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
666 |
1,154 |
1,249Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Penobscot and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
9% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Danforth and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Penobscot and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$89,900±$36k 70% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Penobscot and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.