What stands out worked out from the figures below

Palermo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).

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	Palermo	Penobscot
People
Population	1,473Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	43.4±6.1Lowest 3% below ME	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME
	Penobscot and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Palermo and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±2Lowest ME: 22.4%	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	32.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Palermo and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME
	Palermo and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$259,700±$54kLowest 12% below ME	$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average
	Penobscot and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME	$1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average
	Palermo and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,506Highest 17% below ME	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.6%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 24% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Palermo and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 12	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.