What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

Penobscot has the most affordable 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	Middlesex	Penobscot
People
Population	1,943Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.	53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S.
	Penobscot and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.	$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S.	$296,400±$58kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S.	$1,141±$33Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Middlesex and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,483Highest 108% above U.S.	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.