Compare towns
Durham vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Durham | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 4,262Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Penobscot and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Durham and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$296,400±$58kLowest about the ME average |
| Durham and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,141±$33 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.