Compare towns
Orland vs Ellsworth vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orland has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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.
| Measure | Orland | Ellsworth | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,915 |
8,657Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.2 13% above ME |
43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
| Penobscot and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
| Ellsworth and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±2 ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| Ellsworth and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,100±$20k 7% below ME |
$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
| Orland and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,089 31% below ME |
$3,262Highest 7% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±23.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.1%±15.7 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 62% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Orland 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 | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Ellsworth Public Schools | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.