Counties in Maine Where People Spend Most of Their Paycheck on Housing

Arina P Habich // Shutterstock

Counties in Maine where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Maine where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

You may also like: Counties with the highest cancer rates in Maine

#16. Franklin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.7%
- Total occupied households: 11,848
- Median household income: $51,422
- Median monthly housing cost: $702

#15. Aroostook County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.6%
- Total occupied households: 29,516
- Median household income: $41,123
- Median monthly housing cost: $617

#14. Washington County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.0%
- Total occupied households: 13,791
- Median household income: $41,347
- Median monthly housing cost: $624

#13. Oxford County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.8%
- Total occupied households: 21,338
- Median household income: $49,204
- Median monthly housing cost: $744

#12. Kennebec County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 52,105
- Median household income: $55,365
- Median monthly housing cost: $839

You may also like: Fastest-growing counties in Maine

You may also like: Counties with the lowest cost of living in Maine

#11. Hancock County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 23,661
- Median household income: $57,178
- Median monthly housing cost: $870

#10. Piscataquis County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.5%
- Total occupied households: 7,025
- Median household income: $40,890
- Median monthly housing cost: $631

#9. Waldo County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.4%
- Total occupied households: 17,236
- Median household income: $51,931
- Median monthly housing cost: $815

#8. Lincoln County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.2%
- Total occupied households: 15,336
- Median household income: $57,720
- Median monthly housing cost: $920

#7. Somerset County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.9%
- Total occupied households: 21,321
- Median household income: $44,256
- Median monthly housing cost: $707

You may also like: Counties with the most super commuters in Maine

You may also like: Metros in Maine that are best for nurses

#6. Sagadahoc County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.2%
- Total occupied households: 15,980
- Median household income: $63,694
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,026

#5. Penobscot County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
- Total occupied households: 62,156
- Median household income: $50,808
- Median monthly housing cost: $823

#4. Knox County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.4%
- Total occupied households: 17,020
- Median household income: $57,751
- Median monthly housing cost: $952

#3. Androscoggin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.2%
- Total occupied households: 45,630
- Median household income: $53,509
- Median monthly housing cost: $907

#2. York County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.1%
- Total occupied households: 85,314
- Median household income: $67,830
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,163

You may also like: Where people in Maine are moving to most

You may also like: Airports using biometric facial recognition in Maine

#1. Cumberland County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.1%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.8%
- Total occupied households: 120,644
- Median household income: $73,072
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,282