What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ellsworth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Ellsworth
People
Population	1,154Lowest	8,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME	43±2.4Lowest 4% below ME
Kids under 18	18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.4%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Ellsworth and Penobscot 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%	22.1%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	39.3%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.3%±2Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME	$77,375±$18kHighest 4% above ME
	Ellsworth 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	$242,300±$22kLowest 18% below ME
	Penobscot and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average	$1,017±$195Lowest 11% below ME
	Penobscot and Ellsworth 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	$3,262Highest 7% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	62.1%±15.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Ellsworth 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%Highest ME: 74.3%	66.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9%	7.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Penobscot and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Penobscot Public Schools	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.7
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.