Compare towns
Penobscot vs Windsor vs Lovell
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 oldest population (median age 53.4).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Lovell has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Windsor | Lovell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,154Lowest |
2,060Highest |
1,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
52.2±3.5 34% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Lovell 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% |
21.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor 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% |
29.2%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Windsor 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lovell and Windsor 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 22% below U.S. |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$80,625±$20kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Lovell 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 11% below U.S. |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$295,000±$47k 11% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Lovell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
$1,002±$107Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,419±$178Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,852 41% below U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,480Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.3%±29.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot and Lovell 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lovell and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Penobscot Public Schools | — | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.