What stands out worked out from the figures below

Penobscot has the most kids (18% under 18).

Wayne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5%).

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	Wayne
People
Population	1,154Highest	1,101Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.4±5.7Lowest 19% above ME	55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME
	Wayne 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%	13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Penobscot and Wayne 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%	29.2%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Penobscot and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	48.8%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME	$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME
	Wayne 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±$58kLowest about the ME average	$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME
	Wayne and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average	$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME
	Penobscot and Wayne 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	$3,289Highest 8% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Wayne 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%	7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.9%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	30 minHighest 24% above ME
Work from home	17.7%±13.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9%
	Wayne 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 38
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.