Compare towns
Penobscot vs Danforth 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 people working from home (17.7%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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 | Danforth | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,154 |
666Lowest |
1,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
53.1±4.4Lowest 19% 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Dresden 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% |
26.1%±3.7 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dresden and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
| Dresden and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
| Penobscot and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
| Dresden and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,852 39% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,500Highest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Danforth 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 15% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Penobscot Public Schools | — | RSU 02 |
| 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.