What is the largest city in Penobscot County, ME?

Bangor is the largest city or town in Penobscot County, with about 31,938 residents.

How many ZIP codes are in Penobscot County?

Penobscot County includes 42 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 04401, 04410, 04411, 04412, 04417.

What is the population of Penobscot County, ME?

About 154,710 people live in Penobscot County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

What counties border Penobscot County?

Penobscot County borders Aroostook County, Hancock County, Somerset County, Waldo County, Washington County, Piscataquis County.

Penobscot County, ME: Cities, ZIP Codes & Local Data

Population

154,710

Land area

3,397sq mi

People per sq mi

46

ZIP codes

42

Penobscot County at a glance

It is the 3rd most populous of 16 counties in Maine.
Households here earn a median of $66,356 a year, 11% less than the Maine figure of $74,733.
A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $214,100 (28% below Maine) and median rent is $1,041 a month.
The biggest population centers are Bangor (31,938), Orono (11,151) and Brewer (9,652).

Local data for Penobscot County, ME

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Penobscot County, ME, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$66,356

Poverty rate

14.1%

Median home value

$214,100

Prices +4.6% in a year

Median rent

$1,041/mo

Homeownership

70.5%

Bachelor's or higher

30.1%

Median age

42.5

Average commute

22.7 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (23,848), French Americans (17,591), German Americans (10,026).

Home values and rents Income, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans

Details

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Aug 2026, +0.2 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$57,443

71,782 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$56,593

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$1.48B

FY 2026, $9,737 per person

PPP loans

$338M

3,801 loans, 41,575 jobs reported

Campaign donations

$727K

Itemized, 2026 cycle

Economy Federal spending PPP loans

How people get to work

Penobscot County, ME, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

Drove alone75.6%
Carpooled7.3%
Public transit0.4%
Walked3.7%
Bicycle0.4%
Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.2%
Worked from home11.3%

Average one-way commute: 22.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Penobscot County, ME, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: winter weather

Storm events since 1996

1,518

Most often thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

194

0.4% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

79° / 3°F

44.3 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm history Check a flood zone 83 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Penobscot County, ME, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

38.0%

U.S. 33.3% +4.7 pts

Diabetes

11.5%

U.S. 12.1% -0.6 pts

Smoking

15.6%

U.S. 12.8% +2.8 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

8.4%

U.S. 11.1% -2.7 pts

Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Penobscot County

Population shown

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Penobscot County, ME?: Bangor is the largest city or town in Penobscot County, with about 31,938 residents.
How many ZIP codes are in Penobscot County?: Penobscot County includes 42 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 04401, 04410, 04411, 04412, 04417.
What is the population of Penobscot County, ME?: About 154,710 people live in Penobscot County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What counties border Penobscot County?: Penobscot County borders Aroostook County, Hancock County, Somerset County, Waldo County, Washington County, Piscataquis County.