Compare towns
Edgecomb vs Penobscot vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Edgecomb has the highest household income ($109k).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Edgecomb | Penobscot | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,251 |
1,154Lowest |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±8.8Lowest 8% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±7.2 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.8% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±6.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Edgecomb and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18kHighest 46% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
| Edgecomb and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,400±$36k 17% above ME |
$296,400±$58kLowest about the ME average |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
| Hope and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
| Hope and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,577 18% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±43.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 10% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Edgecomb Public Schools | Penobscot Public Schools | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None 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.