What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Madison	Penobscot
People
Population	4,782Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.6±3.4Lowest 11% above ME	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME
	Penobscot and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	18%±6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Penobscot and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Penobscot and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	32.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Madison and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME	$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME
	Penobscot and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$187,600±$40kLowest 37% below ME	$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME	$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average
	Penobscot and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,983Highest 35% below ME	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Madison and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 59/MSAD 59	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	Madison Jr/Sr High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0	—
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.