Compare towns
Limerick vs Penobscot vs China
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
China has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Limerick | Penobscot | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,400 |
1,154Lowest |
4,526Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| China and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| China and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$96,309±$12k 29% above ME |
| Limerick and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$240,000±$37kLowest 19% below ME |
| Penobscot and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,520 17% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,535Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 53% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Limerick 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 | — | — | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| 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.