Cumberland County vs Penobscot County
Cumberland 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.
Cumberland County edges out Penobscot County on overall objective livability (47 vs 41 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Cumberland County | Penobscot County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $88k | $59k |
| Cost of Living | $59k | $51k |
| Home Value | $373k | $177k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $932 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.17% | 1.32% |
| Income Tax | 7.10% | 7.10% |
| Sales Tax | 5.50% | 5.50% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 13.90% | 12.85% |
| Unemployment | 3.2% | 4.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 23°F | 16°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 70°F | 68°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.4 in | 43.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 72.5 in | 86.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 218 days | 209 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 58°F |
| Comfortable Days | 86 days | 68 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 77.0 | 78.0 |
| Air Quality | 40 AQI | 35 AQI |
| School Quality | 74.7 | 67.0 |
| Violent Crime | 569/100k | 1034/100k |
| Property Crime | 1070/100k | 1585/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 303,357 | 152,640 |
| Median Age | 42.1 | 42.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.20 | 0.14 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.99 |
| Political Leaning | D+37 | Even |
| White (%) | 87.9% | 92.3% |
| Black (%) | 3.1% | 0.9% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.3% | 1.6% |
| Asian (%) | 2.2% | 1.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.5% | 4.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | 23 min |
| Walkability | 9.6/20 | 6.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 108 mi | 248 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 90.8% | 86.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.82 | 0.00 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | 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 Cumberland County or Penobscot County more affordable?
- Penobscot County has the lower cost of living: its index is $51k, compared with Cumberland County's $59k and Penobscot County's $51k. Median rent is $1k in Cumberland County versus $932 in Penobscot County.
- Is Cumberland County or Penobscot County safer?
- Cumberland County has the lower violent crime rate. Cumberland County reports 569/100k and Penobscot County reports 1034/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Cumberland County or Penobscot County?
- The median home value is $373k in Cumberland County and $177k in Penobscot County, so homes are more affordable in Penobscot County.