Compare towns
Newburgh vs Penobscot vs Brooks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Newburgh | Penobscot | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,475Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±5.7Lowest about the ME average |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Newburgh and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.4 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,750±$10kHighest about the ME average |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Newburgh and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$20k 18% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Penobscot and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$219Lowest 17% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,748Highest 9% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Newburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.