Census tract · Penobscot County
Census Tract 290, Penobscot County, Maine
Census Tract 290, GEOID 23019029000, in Penobscot County, Maine, partly within Patten, Stacyville, Mount Chase and Patten CDP. 2,417 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±282); the 2020 Census counted 1,853.
Residents, 2020-2024
2,417
±282 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 1,853
Median household income
$53,125
±$5,273 (90% margin)
Penobscot County: $66,356
Median home value
$149,700
±$24,051 (90% margin)
Penobscot County: $214,100
Median gross rent
$762
±$255 (90% margin)
Penobscot County: $1,041
Where is Census Tract 290?
Census Tract 290 is one of 46 census tracts in Penobscot County, Maine. It covers 1,171.01 square miles of land, 2 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 23019029000, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| Patten | 7% |
| Stacyville | 5% |
| Mount Chase | 4% |
| Patten CDP | 3% |
11 census tracts border Census Tract 290: Tract 9507 in Aroostook County ($47,500), Tract 9523 in Aroostook County ($68,220), Tract 9527 in Aroostook County ($56,915), Tract 9529 in Aroostook County ($53,446), Tract 265 ($57,333), Tract 285 ($49,926), Tract 300 ($51,007), Tract 310 ($42,011), Tract 9400 ($48,750), Tract 9603.02 in Piscataquis County ($73,750) and Tract 9609 in Piscataquis County ($67,625). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.
Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Census Tract 290?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 290's population at 2,417 (±282) in 1,093 households; the 2020 Census counted 1,853 residents and 1,869 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 290 | Penobscot County |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,417 ±282 | 154,710 |
| Households | 1,093 ±107 | 65,221 |
| Average household size | 2.18 ±0.15 | 2.26 |
| Housing units | 1,940 ±90 | 75,683 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Census Tract 290?
The median resident of Census Tract 290 is 55.5 years old; 12.7% are under 18 and 31.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 96.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 1.9%. 1.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Tract 290 | Penobscot County |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.5 ±3.3 | 42.5 |
| Under 18 years | 12.7% ±3.1 pts | 17.6% |
| 65 years and over | 31.9% ±5.3 pts | 20.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 2.1% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 96.9% ±1.3 pts | 91.1% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 1.1% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 1.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 0.1% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.9% ±1.2 pts | 3.4% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.5% |
| Born outside the United States | 1.0% ±0.5 pts | 3.4% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.4% ±1.0 pts | 4.9% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.4% ±2.6 pts | 7.7% |
| With a disability | 23.5% ±4.2 pts | 18.2% |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.7% ±2.1 pts | 6.3% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.6% ±4.3 pts | 94.8% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.0% ±4.9 pts | 30.1% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.6% ±1.6 pts | 11.9% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.0% ±5.3 pts | 87.6% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Census Tract 290 earn?
Half of the 1,093 households in Census Tract 290 earn less than $53,125 a year (±$5,273), against $66,356 across Penobscot County: 34th highest of the county's 46 tracts with a reliable estimate. 21.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tract 290 | Penobscot County |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,125 ±$5,273 | $66,356 |
| Mean household income | $71,259 ±$8,105 | $88,290 |
| Per capita income | $32,818 ±$4,042 | $37,915 |
| People below the poverty line | 21.5% ±5.8 pts | 14.1% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 40.5% ±14.7 pts | 15.6% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.1% ±5.6 pts | 15.6% |
| Households with a computer | 91.8% ±2.5 pts | 94.7% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.2% ±2.9 pts | 88.8% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Census Tract 290?
Owners occupy 83.9% of Census Tract 290's occupied homes and renters 16.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $149,700 by its owner (±$24,051). The median renter pays $762 a month including utilities, and 70.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 290 | Penobscot County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $149,700 ±$24,051 | $214,100 |
| Median gross rent | $762 ±$255 | $1,041 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 70.8% ±21.3 pts | 40.3% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $990 ±$197 | $1,562 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.9% ±6.0 pts | 70.5% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 16.1% ±6.0 pts | 29.5% |
| Housing units | 1,940 ±90 | 75,683 |
| Single-family detached homes | 89.2% ±2.2 pts | 64.2% |
| Mobile homes | 5.1% ±1.8 pts | 11.1% |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6% ±0.4 pts | 1.0% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.5% ±1.8 pts | 8.1% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 14.7% ±3.2 pts | 21.9% |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.6% ±2.4 pts | 8.1% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Census Tract 290 get to work?
64.7% of Census Tract 290's workers drive alone and 21.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 10.7%.
| Measure | Tract 290 | Penobscot County |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 48.1% ±6.4 pts | 59.6% |
| Unemployment rate | 10.7% ±6.0 pts | 3.6% |
| Drove alone to work | 64.7% ±8.0 pts | 75.6% |
| Carpooled | 8.8% ±5.0 pts | 7.3% |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±3.0 pts | 0.4% |
| Walked | 3.2% ±2.4 pts | 3.7% |
| Worked from home | 21.1% ±8.9 pts | 11.3% |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.4 min ±4.8 | 22.7 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Census Tract 290 compare with the other tracts in Penobscot County?
Among Penobscot County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 290 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Penobscot County |
|---|---|
| Population | 29th of 46 |
| Residents per square mile | 46th of 46 |
| Median household income | 34th of 46 |
| Per capita income | 28th of 46 |
| Median home value | 38th of 46 |
| Median gross rent | 38th of 44 |
| Poverty rate | 12th of 42 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25th of 46 |
| Median age | 1st of 46 |
| Owner-occupied share | 18th of 46 |
The tracts next to it on Penobscot County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 140 | 31st | $56,547±$12,324 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 61 | 32nd | $56,542±$5,283 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 270 | 33rd | $56,089±$14,898 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 290 | 34th | $53,125±$5,273 |
| Tract 150 | 35th | $51,845±$17,617 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 300 | 36th | $51,007±$8,588 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 71 | 37th | $50,625±$7,506 · within the margin of this tract |
"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 290?
3 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 290 on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections