Penobscot County, Maine Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Penobscot County is located in Maine with a total population of 153,571. It is the 3rd most populous county out of 16 in Maine. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Penobscot County is 42.5 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 44.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Penobscot County is $63,248. This is 12% lower than the state median of $71,773. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 19% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.6%. This is 26% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.1%. This is 4% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $193,800. Housing costs are 27% lower than the state median of $266,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 70.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 74.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Penobscot County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.9%.

Education

30.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 35.3%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.5%.