What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).

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	Warner	Penobscot
People
Population	2,959Highest	1,154Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±4Lowest 12% above U.S.	53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S.
	Penobscot and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Penobscot and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,022±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.	$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.
	Warner and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$353,100±$22kHighest 6% above U.S.	$296,400±$58kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Warner and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,219±$123Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,141±$33Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Warner and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,650Highest 145% above U.S.	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	16%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	16.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Penobscot and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Kearsarge Regional 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.