Penobscot County, Maine Income Statistics
Penobscot County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Penobscot County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Penobscot County | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,372 | $74,723 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,695 | $58,018 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.7% | 11.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.3% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Penobscot County is about 11% lower than in Maine. Income has been growing slower in Penobscot County (4.9%/yr) than in Maine (4.9%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Penobscot County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Maine average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Penobscot County, Maine grew by 56.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,372 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Penobscot County
| Metric | Penobscot County | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.523 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,639 | $66,614 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,989 | $55,906 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.7% | 16.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Penobscot County, it is 0.523, higher than Maine's 0.510, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 19% more than women's income in Penobscot County, Maine. Over a 35-year career, a 19% wage gap accumulates to roughly $337,750 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Penobscot County, Maine has narrowed from about 24% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $517 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Penobscot County | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.3% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 2,824 people are unemployed in Penobscot County, Maine.
The average commute time in Penobscot County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Maine.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Penobscot County, Maine has fallen from 7.0% to 3.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.2% in 2013.
Penobscot County, ME Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Penobscot County, ME is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 154,700 residents against a local median of 40,192. Where Penobscot County, ME breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 21% below the local median of 4.6% at 3.6%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.7% on unemployment, so Penobscot County, ME sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Penobscot County, ME has the 2nd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penobscot County, ME | 154,700 | $66,372 #3/6 | 4.9%/yr #4/6 | 3.6% #2/6 | 0.523 #6/6 |
| Piscataquis County, ME | 17,263 | $60,892 | 6.5%/yr | 3.6% | 0.512 |
| Hancock County, ME | 56,460 | $73,178 | 4.9%/yr | 4.6% | 0.506 |
| Waldo County, ME | 40,192 | $72,583 | 6.1%/yr | 3.7% | 0.499 |
| Washington County, ME | 31,330 | $56,734 | 4.7%/yr | 6.3% | 0.522 |
| Aroostook County, ME | 67,056 | $56,855 | 5.1%/yr | 5.3% | 0.508 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Penobscot County, Maine has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Maine, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Penobscot County, Maine.
How Rich Is Penobscot County, Maine?
Penobscot County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $66,372, about 11% lower than the Maine average of $74,723.
How fast is household income rising in Penobscot County, Maine?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Penobscot County, Maine rose 57%, from $42,353 to $66,372. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Maine as a whole: +57% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Penobscot County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Penobscot County, Maine was $63,705, up 7% from $59,386 in 2022. The Maine median that year was $72,024.
What was the median household income in Penobscot County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Penobscot County, Maine was $51,891. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $66,372.
What is the Gini coefficient in Penobscot County, Maine?
The Gini coefficient in Penobscot County is 0.523. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Penobscot County, Maine?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Penobscot County, Maine has narrowed from about 24% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $517 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →