Population 1,015 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Penobscot
Household size in Penobscot
| Period | Penobscot | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.08 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.09 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.12 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.17 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Penobscot is a place of small households, averaging 2.17 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.08, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Penobscot
| Period | Penobscot | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.0 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 52.5 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.5 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.5 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −8.5 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Penobscot skews older: half of its residents are older than 52.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Penobscot
| Period | Penobscot | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.1% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Penobscot than nationally: 10.6%, against 11.6%. Still, single parents are more common here than in Maine overall (8.8%).
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Penobscot
Renters in Penobscot
| Period | Penobscot | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.0% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.5% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Penobscot is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly six in ten owners (57.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Penobscot
| Period | Penobscot | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.7% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 33.6% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 38.5% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.8% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 31.8% of the housing in Penobscot, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Penobscot
| Period | Penobscot | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Penobscot was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. Homes here are newer than in Maine overall, where the median home dates to 1975.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Penobscot
| Period | Penobscot | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $708 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $774 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $788 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,126 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$417 | +$464 | +$606 |
Rent in Penobscot runs $1,126 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 48.7% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Penobscot
Bachelor's degrees in Penobscot
| Period | Penobscot | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.7% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.6% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.9% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.0% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Penobscot (33.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in Maine overall (36.5%).
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Penobscot
| Period | Penobscot | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.7% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.2% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.6% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.9 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Penobscot: 96.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Penobscot
| Period | Penobscot | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Penobscot than nationally: unemployment was 4.1%, against 5.4%. The picture is much the same across Maine. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Penobscot compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penobscot | 2.17 | 52.5 | 10.6% | 15.5% | 31.8% | 1980 | $1,126 | 33.0% | 96.6% | 4.1% |
| South Penobscot | 2.17 | 53.4 | 10.8% | 15.8% | 32.4% | 1979 | $1,137 | 32.2% | 97.2% | 4.3% |
| Verona Island | 2.05 | 48.9 | 8.5% | 2.6% | 21.1% | 1949 | $1,132 | 35.3% | 96.1% | 1.9% |
| Orland | 2.06 | 48.9 | 9.8% | 12.6% | 29.9% | 1978 | $1,144 | 30.4% | 94.7% | 2.6% |
| West Penobscot | 2.12 | 56.8 | 5.7% | 14.0% | 26.9% | 1986 | $1,252 | 31.5% | 97.2% | 3.3% |
| Blue Hill | 2.12 | 50.0 | 12.8% | 19.6% | 26.6% | 1992 | $1,074 | 35.7% | 93.0% | 5.5% |
| West Ellsworth | 2.18 | 51.7 | 7.1% | 11.8% | 30.7% | 1986 | $984 | 37.8% | 89.8% | 4.5% |
| West Brooksville | 1.91 | 61.2 | 3.1% | 14.8% | 52.1% | 1982 | $1,306 | 52.7% | 96.5% | 4.7% |
| Castine | 2.22 | 21.2 | 4.3% | 19.6% | 51.1% | 1974 | $1,105 | 74.5% | 99.8% | 2.7% |
| Brooksville | 1.91 | 61.4 | 3.1% | 14.8% | 52.0% | 1982 | $1,306 | 52.6% | 96.5% | 4.7% |
| Stockton Springs | 2.20 | 48.5 | 8.0% | 16.7% | 14.5% | 1988 | $1,375 | 26.8% | 96.2% | 5.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Douglas, IN · Wakarusa, KS · Vida, OR · Twin View Heights, IA · Trinidad, WA · Easton, KS · East Carbon, UT · Downing, WI · Dowelltown, TN · Dow City, IA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Penobscot. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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