What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	Rumney	Penobscot
People
Population	1,458Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S.	53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rumney and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Penobscot and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,444±$21kHighest about the U.S. average	$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
	Rumney and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,800±$37kHighest 7% below U.S.	$296,400±$58kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Rumney and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S.
	Penobscot and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Highest 51% above U.S.	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Penobscot and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rumney School District	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.