Compare towns
Knox vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Knox has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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 | Knox | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 825Lowest |
1,154Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Penobscot and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$9kHighest 13% below ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| Knox and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,852Highest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 22% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| School district | — | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school 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.