What stands out worked out from the figures below

Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).

Whiting has the most affordable homes ($214k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Penobscot	Whiting
People
Population	1,154Highest	506Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.1% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME	50±5Lowest 12% above ME
	Penobscot and Whiting 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%	17.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Penobscot and Whiting 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%	27.5%±6.1Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Penobscot and Whiting 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%	34.9%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.8%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Whiting 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	$55,263±$2kLowest 26% below ME
	Penobscot and Whiting 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	$214,200±$52kLowest 28% below ME
	Penobscot and Whiting 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	$600±$333Lowest 47% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,852Highest 39% below ME	$1,728Lowest 43% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Whiting 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%	5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	93.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	22 minLowest 10% below ME
Work from home	17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9%	5.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Penobscot and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Penobscot Public Schools	Whiting Public Schools
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.