Penobscot County vs York County
Penobscot County, Maine versus York County, Maine: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US counties.
York 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 | Penobscot County | York County |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $59k | $80k |
| Cost of Living | $51k | $57k |
| Home Value | $177k | $324k |
| Monthly Rent | $932 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.32% | 1.10% |
| Income Tax | 7.10% | 7.10% |
| Sales Tax | 5.50% | 5.50% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 12.85% | 13.40% |
| Unemployment | 4.3% | 3.4% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 16°F | 24°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 68°F | 70°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8 in | 51.0 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 86.1 in | 66.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 209 days | 201 days |
| Summer Humidity | 58°F | 61°F |
| Comfortable Days | 68 days | 83 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 78.0 | 81.5 |
| Air Quality | 35 AQI | 35 AQI |
| School Quality | 67.0 | 76.4 |
| Violent Crime | 1034/100k | 830/100k |
| Property Crime | 1585/100k | 1102/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 152,640 | 212,691 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 45.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.14 | 0.14 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.99 | 0.97 |
| Political Leaning | Even | D+13 |
| White (%) | 92.3% | 91.8% |
| Black (%) | 0.9% | 1.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 1.6% | 2.0% |
| Asian (%) | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.2% | 4.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 23 min | 27 min |
| Walkability | 6.3/20 | 6.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 248 mi | 76 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.3% | 90.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 0.00 | 1.03 |
| 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 Penobscot County or York County more affordable?
- Penobscot County has the lower cost of living: its index is $51k, compared with Penobscot County's $51k and York County's $57k. Median rent is $932 in Penobscot County versus $1k in York County.
- Is Penobscot County or York County safer?
- York County has the lower violent crime rate. Penobscot County reports 1034/100k and York County reports 830/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Penobscot County or York County?
- The median home value is $177k in Penobscot County and $324k in York County, so homes are more affordable in Penobscot County.