What stands out worked out from the figures below

Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).

Peru has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).

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	Peru
People
Population	1,154Lowest	1,501Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME	48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME
	Penobscot and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Peru 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%	21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Peru 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	$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME
	Peru 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	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,852Highest 39% below ME	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Peru 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%	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Penobscot and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Penobscot Public Schools	RSU 56
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.