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County in Maine

Penobscot County, Maine

Penobscot County is a county in Maine with 154,710 residents, No. 3 of 16 by population. In Penobscot County, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $541,287, and a typical home is worth $214,100. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($1,496–$1,722 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $28.77–$33.12 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $214,100

    −28% vs. Maine −36% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Penobscot
    • Maine
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,496–$1,722 a month

    HUD sets it by area: from the lowest to the highest of the 2 areas in Penobscot County.

    • Lowest area
    • Highest area
    • Maine
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $541,287

    FHA national floor limit

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Penobscot
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    1.16% of value per year

    +14% vs. Maine +23% vs. U.S.

    $2,481 a year for the typical owner

    • Penobscot
    • Maine
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$277,437
2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,512 a month
4.4% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Penobscot County today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $1,815 a month: 33% of the typical household income here. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $77,785 a year; the typical income here is $66,356. The typical home value is 28% less than in Maine overall. The typical property tax is $2,481 a year (about 1.16% of home value), lower than in Maine.

50% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on housing.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Only here

What sets Penobscot County apart

  1. Among the neighboring counties, Washington County has the lowest typical rent ($783), 25% below the $1,041 in Penobscot County.

  2. Nearby, in Washington County, the typical home value is $161,800: 24% less than in Penobscot County ($214,100).

  3. At 1.16%, Penobscot County ranks 2nd among the 16 counties in Maine for the highest effective property tax rate.

  4. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Penobscot County rose 68% on FHFA's index, about the same as in Maine (68%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data).

The homes here

Housing in Penobscot County

What homes there are in Penobscot County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Penobscot County (64%), but less so than in Maine (70%).

Year built

By age, homes in Penobscot County look like those in Maine: the typical year built is 1977.

Much as in Maine, 56% of homes in Penobscot County have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Penobscot County sit under the FHA limit for this county ($541,287): about 95%.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Penobscot County cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,722): about 88%.

With a mortgage

$1,562 a month

Maine: $1,729 a month

Without a mortgage

$575 a month

Maine: $638 a month

Owners with a mortgage

54%

Maine: 58%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Penobscot County is $1,562 a month, less than in Maine ($1,729); without one, $575.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Penobscot County rose 48% since 2015–2019, less than in Maine (56%).

Rents in Penobscot County rose more slowly than in Maine: 30% since 2015–2019, against 34%.

To compare: typical income in Penobscot County rose 31%; the home, +48%; the rent, +30%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePenobscot CountyMaineUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.8%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room 1.7%1.4%3.4%
People per household 2.262.262.53
Drive alone 76%71%69%
Carpool 7%8%9%
Public transit 0%1%3%
Walk or bike 4%4%3%
Work from home 11%16%15%
Other means 1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

There is more rental housing open in Penobscot County: 5.8% is empty and offered for rent, against 4.2% in Maine.

In Penobscot County, 1.7% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Maine.

Much as in Maine, a household in Penobscot County has 2.26 people on average.

In Penobscot County, 76% of workers drive alone to work; in Maine, 71%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Penobscot County?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home of $214,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income here, which is $66,356 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $77,785 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Penobscot County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $7,494 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,815

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$210,222
Total interest
$302,460
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,616 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,548 a month

  • Tight

    $1,548 to $1,991 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $1,991 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Penobscot County ($66,356 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,815
Principal & interest$1,424
Property tax$207
Home insurance$89
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$95

You need at least $7,494 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Penobscot County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Penobscot County compares with Maine and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Penobscot County rose 105% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Maine United States
In 2025 +4.6% +4.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +68% +68% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +105% +112% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Penobscot County compared with Maine and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Penobscot $214,100
  • Maine $296,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Penobscot $1,041
  • Maine $1,139
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Penobscot $66,356
  • Maine $74,733
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Penobscot compared with Maine and the United States
MeasureHereMaineU.S.
Residents154,7101,387,817334,922,499
Typical home value$214,100$296,600$332,700
Typical household income$66,356$74,733$80,734
Typical rent$1,041$1,139$1,413
Typical property tax$2,481$3,036$3,119
Effective tax rate1.16%1.02%0.94%
Households that own their home71%74%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent50%48%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$541,287$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Maine shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Penobscot County

For a typical $214,100 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $1,815 $7,494 $210,222 7.18% FHA MIP · $95 $13,917 580
Conventional, 5% down $1,776 $10,705 $203,395 7.18% PMI · $102 $17,128 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,456 $42,820 $171,280 7.18% None $49,243 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,654 $32,115 $181,985 8.18% None $38,538 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

Everything about buying in Penobscot County: income, limits and help How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in Penobscot County use the national floor limit: it isn't a high-cost area. If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $541,287 $832,750
2 units $693,050 $1,066,250
3 units $837,700 $1,288,800
4 units $1,041,125 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Penobscot County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Penobscot County, the typical owner pays $2,481 a year: about 1.16% of the home's value. That is more than the rest of Maine and more than the national average.

  • Penobscot 1.16%
  • Maine 1.02%
  • United States 0.94%

What Maine publishes Homestead exemption of up to $25,000 of value (Maine Revenue Services)

Exemptions and deadlines in Maine

Is there a flood risk?

FEMA’s maps count no homes in high-risk flood zones in Penobscot County. That does not mean there is no risk: some areas have no map. Check your address.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Penobscot County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Penobscot County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

FEMA rates the natural hazard risk in Penobscot County as relatively low.

To rate it, FEMA weighs the expected loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.

The loss FEMA expects each year in Penobscot County from all natural hazards is $41.2 million, counting buildings, people and crops.

Of all the hazards, FEMA expects inland flooding to do the most damage to buildings: about $24 million a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingRelatively moderate $24 million a year
  2. HurricaneRelatively moderate $4.7 million a year
  3. EarthquakeRelatively low $1.3 million a year
  4. Winter weatherVery high $842,818 a year
  5. TornadoRelatively low $171,668 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

The home energy code (IECC) puts Penobscot County in zone 6A: cold.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Seal air leaks and add insulation in the attic: ENERGY STAR says it lowers the chance of ice dams on the roof in snowy climates. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Put clear plastic film over the windows: it is inexpensive, cuts drafts, helps the house feel warmer in winter and reduces moisture on the glass. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$30.48$24.78 and $44.59
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$28.92$20.57 and $37.33
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$29.53$22.10 and $38.50
Roofers$23.14$21.75 and $30.98
Carpenters$27.45$18.75 and $34.93
Painters, construction and maintenance$23.65$19.81 and $27.70
Maintenance and repair workers, general$22.58$17.42 and $33.13

In the Bangor, ME area, half of electricians earn more than $30.48 an hour and half earn less; for a plumber, the typical figure is $28.92.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Penobscot County

The typical rent in Penobscot County is $1,041 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

50% of renter households in Penobscot County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 22% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size in Bangor, ME HUD Metro FMR Area

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,305 $25.10 $52,200
1 bedroom $1,380 $26.54 $55,200
2 bedrooms $1,722 $33.12 $68,880
3 bedrooms $2,203 $42.37 $88,120
4 bedrooms $2,495 $47.98 $99,800

HUD splits this county into 2 areas with different fair market rents: for 2 bedrooms they run from $1,496 to $1,722. The table is for Bangor, ME HUD Metro FMR Area, the area where most people live; below you see every area with its towns. Includes basic utilities.

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Fair market rent by HUD area in Penobscot County

HUD splits this county into 2 areas, each with its own fair market rent. Find your town in its area's list; the housing agency tells you which one it uses for your voucher.

HUD area Studio1 bd2 bd3 bd4 bdHourly wage, 2 bd
Bangor, ME HUD Metro FMR Area The area where most people live
14 towns in this area

Bangor city, Brewer city, Eddington town, Glenburn town, Hampden town, Hermon town, Holden town, Kenduskeag town, Milford town, Old Town city, Orono town, Orrington town, Penobscot Indian Island Reservation, Veazie town

 $1,305$1,380$1,722$2,203$2,495$33.12
Penobscot County, ME (part) HUD Metro FMR Area
53 towns in this area

Alton town, Argyle UT, Bradford town, Bradley town, Burlington town, Carmel town, Carroll plantation, Charleston town, Chester town, Clifton town, Corinna town, Corinth town, Dexter town, Dixmont town, Drew UT, East Central Penobscot UT, East Millinocket town, Edinburg town, Enfield town, Etna town, Exeter town, Garland town, Greenbush town, Howland town, Hudson town, Kingman UT, Lagrange town, Lakeville town, Lee town, Levant town, Lincoln town, Lowell town, Mattawamkeag town, Maxfield town, Medway town, Millinocket town, Mount Chase town, Newburgh town, Newport town, North Penobscot UT, Passadumkeag town, Patten town, Plymouth town, Prentiss UT, Seboeis plantation, Springfield town, Stacyville town, Stetson town, Twombly UT, Webster plantation, Whitney UT, Winn town, Woodville town

 $1,042$1,144$1,496$2,039$2,096$28.77

HUD fair market rent by area and size, per month, Fiscal year 2027. The wage is what full-time work must pay to rent 2 bedrooms without spending more than 30% of income. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027 Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD)

Free help in Penobscot County

Programs and counseling in Penobscot County

There are 2 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Penobscot County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

A mother holding her baby watches her daughter blow bubbles outdoors.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Maine down payment programs

  1. First Home Loan Program — Advantage

    With the Maine state agency's First Home mortgage, the buyer gets $5,000 for the down payment and closing costs (up to $14,000 for 2- to 4-unit homes), with no second mortgage

    First-time buyers only. Run by MaineHousing.

    Grant Verified November 5, 2026

  2. First Generation Program

    Maine state agency mortgage with a rate 1% lower than its First Home mortgage and a $10,000 grant for the down payment and closing costs, with no second mortgage; for people who have never owned a home and never lived in a home their parents or guardians owned, or who were in foster care

    First-time buyers only. Run by MaineHousing.

    Grant Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Maine programs

Help in Spanish in Penobscot County

None of the 2 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this county.

  • Housing Authority City of Bangor Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (207) 942-6365
  • Old Town Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (207) 827-6151

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These agencies have an office in Penobscot County. The full list is on the Maine counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Four Directions Development Corporation

    20 Godfrey Dr, Orono

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 4 more
    (207) 866-6545

  • Penquis Community Action Program

    262 Harlow St, Bangor

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (207) 973-3500
See every agency in Maine

Places

Cities in Penobscot County

Each city has its own page with prices, rents and help. These are the largest.

See all 5 cities of Penobscot County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Penobscot County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Penobscot County in 2026?

Penobscot County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $693,050, for 3 it's $837,700 and for 4 it's $1,041,125. It's the national floor limit.

What is the conforming loan limit in Penobscot County?

Penobscot County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Penobscot County?

The typical home value in Penobscot County is $214,100 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Maine it's $296,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Penobscot County?

Penobscot County has a typical rent of $1,041 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,496–$1,722 (Fiscal year 2027). HUD sets it by area within this county: the figure runs from the lowest area to the highest.

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Penobscot County?

About $28.77–$33.12 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $59,840–$68,880 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,496–$1,722 stays under 30% of income. HUD sets it by area within this county: the figure runs from the lowest area to the highest.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).