Compare towns
Penobscot vs Ogunquit 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,154Lowest |
1,379 |
1,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±5.7Lowest 19% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Dresden 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest 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%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Penobscot 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
26 min 7% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit 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 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.