Compare towns
Penobscot vs Sutton vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | Sutton | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,154Lowest |
2,239Highest |
1,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±5.7 37% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% above U.S. |
55.1±7.9Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sutton 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±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$74,844±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$240,100±$29kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$33Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,194±$502 15% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Dresden 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$2,500 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot and Sutton 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Penobscot Public Schools | Kearsarge Regional School District | RSU 02 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.