Compare towns
Penobscot vs Sullivan vs Danforth 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 people working from home (17.7%).
Sullivan has the youngest population (median age 47.1).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Dresden has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Sullivan | Danforth | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,154 |
1,246 |
452Lowest |
1,645Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
— | +3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
| Dresden and Penobscot 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% |
18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan 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±$14k 15% below ME |
$59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
| Dresden 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 |
$222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$240,100±$29k 19% below ME |
| Penobscot and Dresden 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 |
$883±$114 22% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$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 |
$2,228 27% below ME |
— | $2,500Highest 18% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Sullivan 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% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
9.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs 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 |
27 min 9% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 24 | — | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.