Compare towns
Union vs Penobscot vs Danforth vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Union | Penobscot | Danforth | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,154 |
452Lowest |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
51.9±5.3 16% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% 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 | 24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
| Union and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Penobscot and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,141±$33 about the ME average |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Union and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
— | $2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 20% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
27 min 9% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Penobscot Public Schools | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.