Compare towns
Danforth vs Sumner vs Penobscot
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 ($90k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k 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 | Sumner | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
845 |
1,154Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Lowest 19% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
| Sumner 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Sumner 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% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Danforth and Sumner 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME |
| Penobscot and Sumner 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,852 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Penobscot 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 10 | 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 |
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.