Kennebec County vs Penobscot County
A side-by-side comparison of Kennebec County and Penobscot County: population, income, housing, and more.
Kennebec County and Penobscot County are counties in Maine. This page compares them across population, income, housing, education, commuting, and how each has changed since 2019.
Penobscot County has the higher population (153,571 vs 125,614 in Kennebec County). Kennebec County has the higher median household income ($65,062 vs $63,248 in Penobscot County). Kennebec County has the higher median home value ($219,900 vs $193,800 in Penobscot County).
Population, income & housing
| Kennebec County | Penobscot County | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 125,614 | 153,571 |
| Median age | 44.0 yrs | 42.5 yrs |
| Median household income | $65,062 | $63,248 |
| Median home value | $219,900 | $193,800 |
| Median gross rent | $952 | $997 |
| Housing units | 63,140 | 75,405 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.8% | 70.3% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 30.5% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.1% |
Trends (ACS 5-year, 2019–2023)
| Kennebec County | Penobscot County | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 121,753 → 125,614 (+3.2%) | 151,774 → 153,571 (+1.2%) |
| Median household income | $55,365 → $65,062 (+17.5%) | $50,808 → $63,248 (+24.5%) |
| Median home value | $159,400 → $219,900 (+38.0%) | $144,700 → $193,800 (+33.9%) |
| Median gross rent | $761 → $952 (+25.1%) | $799 → $997 (+24.8%) |
Kennebec County
121,753125,614
$55,365$65,062
$159,400$219,900
$761$952
Penobscot County
151,774153,571
$50,808$63,248
$144,700$193,800
$799$997
Age & race/ethnicity
Age distribution (share)
| Kennebec County | Penobscot County | |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| 5 to 17 | 14.2% | 13.5% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.8% | 10.0% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.7% | 12.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.9% | 12.1% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.4% | 15.0% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.7% | 12.0% |
| 75 and over | 8.1% | 7.7% |
Race & ethnicity (share)
| Kennebec County | Penobscot County | |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 92.7% | 91.4% |
| Black or African American | 0.8% | 1.0% |
| American Indian & Alaska Native | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Asian | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Some other race | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Two or more races | 3.1% | 3.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2.2% | 1.9% |
Educational attainment (age 25+)
Share of adults 25+
| Kennebec County | Penobscot County | |
|---|---|---|
| No high school diploma | 5.2% | 5.5% |
| High school graduate | 34.0% | 32.4% |
| Some college or associate's | 30.0% | 31.6% |
| Bachelor's degree | 19.1% | 18.9% |
| Graduate or professional degree | 11.8% | 11.6% |
Commute to work
How workers get to work (share)
| Kennebec County | Penobscot County | |
|---|---|---|
| Drove alone | 75.1% | 75.9% |
| Carpooled | 7.0% | 7.8% |
| Public transit | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Walked | 2.6% | 3.6% |
| Bicycle | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| Worked from home | 13.8% | 10.6% |
| Other means | 1.3% | 1.2% |
Housing
Units in structure (share)
| Kennebec County | Penobscot County | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-unit, detached | 67.9% | 64.4% |
| 1-unit, attached | 1.0% | 1.9% |
| 2 to 4 units | 11.4% | 12.6% |
| 5 to 19 units | 6.8% | 6.5% |
| 20 or more units | 2.8% | 3.0% |
| Mobile home & other | 10.0% | 11.6% |
Poverty & households
| Kennebec County | Penobscot County | |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 13.5% |
| Average household size | 2.25 | 2.26 |
| Mean commute (minutes) | 24 | 23 |
| Median year structure built | 1975 | 1977 |
Full profiles
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