What stands out worked out from the figures below

Perry has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k 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	Perry	Penobscot
People
Population	744Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.5±11.4Lowest about the ME average	53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME
	Penobscot and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%	18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Perry and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±6.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	32.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Perry and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME	$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,400±$13kLowest 34% below ME	$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,141±$33 about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,132Highest 3% above ME	$1,852Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%	73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Penobscot and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%	16%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 6% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9%	17.7%±13.5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Perry and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Perry Public Schools	Penobscot 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.