Compare towns
Penobscot vs Sumner vs Clifton
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 expensive homes ($296k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Clifton has the highest household income ($70k).
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 | Sumner | Clifton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,154Highest |
845Lowest |
1,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.4±5.7 19% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.7±7.1Lowest 18% 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%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
16%±7.1Lowest 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%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±7.1Lowest 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% |
26.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Clifton and Sumner 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$70,313±$16kHighest 6% below ME |
| Clifton 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$202,500±$67k 32% below ME |
| Penobscot and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average |
— | $1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME |
| Clifton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,852 39% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,838Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.9%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
81.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Clifton 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% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±3.4Lowest 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 | 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.