Compare towns
Penobscot vs Cushing vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Penobscot has the most kids (18% under 18).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Penobscot | Cushing | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,154Lowest |
1,460 |
1,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
48.8±7.7Lowest 9% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
| Dresden and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.4% ME: 36.2% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cushing and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Cushing and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,400±$58k about the ME average |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$1,194±$502 5% above ME |
| Cushing and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 13 | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None 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.