Compare towns
Sullivan vs Penobscot vs Danforth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the youngest population (median age 47.1).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k 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.
| Measure | Sullivan | Penobscot | Danforth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,246Highest |
1,154 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
| Penobscot and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Penobscot and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Sullivan and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,643±$14k 20% below ME |
$63,194±$14kHighest 15% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
| Penobscot and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$33k 25% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
| Penobscot and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $883±$114 22% below ME |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,228Highest 27% below ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±23.6 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 24 | Penobscot Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Sumner Memorial High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.