Compare towns
Danforth vs Penobscot vs Island Falls
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).
Island Falls has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Penobscot | Island Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,154Highest |
768 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
50.7±10.6Lowest 13% 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%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Island Falls and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Island Falls 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% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Island Falls and Danforth 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 |
$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME |
$56,328±$8k 25% below ME |
| Penobscot and Island Falls 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 |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$108,300±$25k 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$636±$124 44% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $1,852Highest 39% below ME |
$1,720Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
17.9%±51.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Island Falls 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% |
16% ME: 10.7% |
20.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
21 minLowest 16% below ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Island Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Penobscot Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.