Androscoggin County vs Penobscot County
Androscoggin County, Maine versus Penobscot County, Maine: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
Androscoggin County edges out Penobscot County on overall objective livability (46 vs 41 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Androscoggin County | Penobscot County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $65k | $59k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $51k |
| Home Value | $212k | $177k |
| Monthly Rent | $916 | $932 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.35% | 1.32% |
| Income Tax | 7.10% | 7.10% |
| Sales Tax | 5.50% | 5.50% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.35% | 12.85% |
| Unemployment | 4.8% | 4.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 21°F | 16°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 69°F | 68°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.4 in | 43.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 72.5 in | 86.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 221 days | 209 days |
| Summer Humidity | 59°F | 58°F |
| Comfortable Days | 82 days | 68 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 59.1 | 78.0 |
| Air Quality | 35 AQI | 35 AQI |
| School Quality | 75.6 | 67.0 |
| Violent Crime | 919/100k | 1034/100k |
| Property Crime | 1479/100k | 1585/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 111,532 | 152,640 |
| Median Age | 40.8 | 42.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.19 | 0.14 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 0.99 |
| Political Leaning | Even | Even |
| White (%) | 89.1% | 92.3% |
| Black (%) | 4.3% | 0.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.0% | 1.6% |
| Asian (%) | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.5% | 4.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 24 min | 23 min |
| Walkability | 7.1/20 | 6.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 133 mi | 248 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.2% | 86.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 1.17 | 0.00 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US counties: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Androscoggin County or Penobscot County more affordable?
- Androscoggin County has the lower cost of living: its index is $49k, compared with Androscoggin County's $49k and Penobscot County's $51k. Median rent is $916 in Androscoggin County versus $932 in Penobscot County.
- Is Androscoggin County or Penobscot County safer?
- Androscoggin County has the lower violent crime rate. Androscoggin County reports 919/100k and Penobscot County reports 1034/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Androscoggin County or Penobscot County?
- The median home value is $212k in Androscoggin County and $177k in Penobscot County, so homes are more affordable in Penobscot County.