State rank#3 of 16
Smallest county154,710 residentsCumberland County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 23019
Penobscot County, Maine
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population154,710
Household income$66,356
Unemployment3.3%
Life expectancy75.2 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Penobscot County has 154,710 residents and ranks #3 by population among Maine county equivalents. Median household income is $66,356. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.3%. Its clearest relative strength is primary care access. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Maine
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Penobscot County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Penobscot County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is primary care access.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $214,100 median home value and $1,041/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $66,356, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Penobscot County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing primary care access, mental health access, and median home value. College attainment is 30.1% and life expectancy is 75.2 years.
Potential advantages
- Primary care access: 1 per 738 residents, rank #2 of 16 available Maine counties.
- Mental health access: 1 per 150 residents, rank #3 of 16 available Maine counties.
- Median home value: $214,100, rank #6 of 16 available Maine counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Life expectancy: 75.2 years, rank #12 of 16; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median household income: $66,356, rank #10 of 16; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,041/mo, rank #10 of 16; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Maine
Rank and range use only counties in Maine with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$66,356
$66,356; below the state county median of $68,475.
State rank #10 of 16 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$214,100
$214,100; below the state county median of $245,500.
State rank #6 of 16 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,041/mo
$1,041/mo; above the state county median of $1,016/mo.
State rank #10 of 16 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.3%
3.3%; below the state county median of 3.5%.
State rank #7 of 16 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
30.1%
30.1%; below the state county median of 32%.
State rank #10 of 16 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
75.2 years
75.2 years; below the state county median of 76.2 years.
State rank #12 of 16 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
15.9%
15.9%; above the state county median of 14.6%.
State rank #10 of 16 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
8.8%
8.8%; below the state county median of 9.4%.
State rank #6 of 16 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 738 residents
1 per 738 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,102 residents.
State rank #2 of 16 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 150 residents
1 per 150 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 214 residents.
State rank #3 of 16 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Penobscot County FAQ
Is Penobscot County a good place to live?
Penobscot County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing primary care access, mental health access, and median home value. College attainment is 30.1% and life expectancy is 75.2 years.
What should I know before moving to Penobscot County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $214,100 median home value and $1,041/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $66,356, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Penobscot County?
Penobscot County has 154,710 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Penobscot County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 23019; the parent state FIPS is 23.
What is the median household income in Penobscot County?
The ACS median household income is $66,356.
How much does housing cost in Penobscot County?
Housing benchmarks are $214,100 median home value and $1,041/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $66,356, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Penobscot County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.3%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
Continue exploring