Compare towns
Danforth vs Penobscot vs Sullivan vs Sangerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Sullivan has the youngest population (median age 47.1).
Sangerville has the shortest commute (20 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 | Sullivan | Sangerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
1,154 |
1,246Highest |
1,136 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
53.9±6.9Highest 20% above ME |
| Sangerville and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4 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+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
12.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Sangerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
$50,313±$14k 33% below ME |
| Penobscot and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$124,000±$40k 58% below ME |
| Penobscot and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
$850±$136 25% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
$2,228Highest 27% below ME |
$1,349 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.6%±27.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Sangerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
13.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 15% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
20 minLowest 18% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
13.7%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Sangerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 24 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
— |
| 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.