What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lovell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).

Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lovell	Penobscot
People
Population	1,353Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.2±3.5Lowest 17% above ME	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME
	Penobscot and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	18%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Penobscot and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±3.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Penobscot and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±4.2Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,625±$20kHighest 8% above ME	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME
	Lovell and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,000±$47kLowest about the ME average	$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average
	Penobscot and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,419±$178Highest 25% above ME	$1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,480Lowest 51% below ME	$1,852Highest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.3%±29.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Lowest 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	31 minHighest 28% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	21.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Lovell and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 72/MSAD 72	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.