Compare towns
Danforth vs Strong vs Penobscot vs Danforth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strong has the youngest population (median age 47.5).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k 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.
| Measure | Danforth | Strong | Penobscot | Danforth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
1,249Highest |
1,154 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% 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 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 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+ | 26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 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% ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Highest 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 | $48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% 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 | $89,900±$36k 70% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$629±$22Lowest 45% 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 |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest 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 | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Penobscot Public Schools | — |
| 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.