Compare towns
Orland vs Wayne 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Penobscot has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,915Highest |
1,101Lowest |
1,154 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.2Lowest 13% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
| Wayne and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4.6 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Orland 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
| Wayne 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±$20kLowest 7% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$296,400±$58k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Penobscot 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 |
$983±$554Lowest 14% 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Orland 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest 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 |
30 min 24% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17%±11.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 38 | Penobscot Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.