Compare towns
Penobscot vs Smithfield 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
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.
| Measure | Penobscot | Smithfield | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,154 |
856Lowest |
1,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±5.7Lowest 19% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
55.1±7.9 23% above ME |
| Smithfield 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% |
10%±3.5Lowest 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%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Smithfield 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% |
34.7%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% |
3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$74,844±$22k about the ME average |
| Smithfield 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±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$242,800±$15k 18% below ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% below ME |
| Penobscot and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$1,109±$358Lowest 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 |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,500 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Smithfield 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 min 32% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield 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.