What stands out worked out from the figures below

Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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	Rumney
People
Population	1,154Lowest	1,458Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S.	44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Rumney and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Penobscot and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.	$79,444±$21kHighest about the U.S. average
	Rumney 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±$58kLowest 11% below U.S.	$309,800±$37kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Rumney and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.
	Penobscot and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.	$4,716Highest 51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.1%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Penobscot and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Penobscot Public Schools	Rumney School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.