What stands out worked out from the figures below

Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Penobscot	Dresden
People
Population	1,154Lowest	1,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±5.7Lowest 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%	17%±3.4Lowest 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%	24.8%±8Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dresden and Penobscot 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	$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	$240,100±$29kLowest 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±$33Lowest about the ME average	$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	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME	$2,500Highest 18% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Dresden 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%	9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	33 minHighest 35% above ME
Work from home	17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9%	6.7%±2.8Lowest 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 Our Story	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.