What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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	Sumner
People
Population	1,154Highest	845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±5.7Lowest 19% above ME	56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME
	Sumner 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%	17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Penobscot and Sumner 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%±5.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Penobscot and Sumner 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%	15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	1.4%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Sumner 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±$14kHighest 15% below ME	$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME
	Penobscot and Sumner 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	$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$33 about the ME average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME	$2,167Highest 29% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sumner and Penobscot 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	91.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME	1977Lowest same as ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	42 minHighest 72% above ME
Work from home	17.7%±13.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sumner 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 10
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.