Best counties to live in Maine
More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.
Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.
Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.
Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Maine using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
#13. Aroostook County, Maine
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 67,237
- Median household income: $50,843
- Median home value: $125,400 (74% own)
- Median rent: $681 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Maine School of Science & Mathematics (grade A+), Mill Pond School (grade A minus), Mapleton Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Greater Houlton Christian Academy (grade B), Opportunity Training Center (grade unavailable), Carleton Project School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Mapleton (grade B), Presque Isle (grade B minus), Houlton (grade B minus)
#12. Androscoggin County, Maine
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 111,532
- Median household income: $64,500
- Median home value: $211,800 (66% own)
- Median rent: $916 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Durham Community School (grade A), Acadia Academy School (grade A minus), Tripp Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Saint Dominic Academy (grade A minus), Open Door Christian Academy (grade A minus), Calvary Christian Academy (grade C+)
- Top places: Greene (grade B minus), Auburn (grade C+), Lisbon Falls (grade C+)
#11. Washington County, Maine
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 31,096
- Median household income: $51,669
- Median home value: $135,400 (78% own)
- Median rent: $687 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Pembroke Elementary School (grade A minus), Lubec Consolidated School (grade A minus), Edmunds Consolidated School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Washington Academy (grade B), Machias Valley Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Calais (grade B), Grand Lake Stream Township (grade B+), Roque Bluffs (grade B+)
#10. Franklin County, Maine
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 29,839
- Median household income: $56,890
- Median home value: $170,600 (76% own)
- Median rent: $752 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Phillips Elementary School (grade B+), Stratton Elementary School (grade B+), Kingfield Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Carrabassett Valley Academy (grade A), New Life Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Farmington (grade B+), Jay (grade B minus), Chisholm (grade C+)
#9. Penobscot County, Maine
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 152,640
- Median household income: $59,438
- Median home value: $176,700 (70% own)
- Median rent: $932 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: George B. Weatherbee School (grade A), Orono Middle School (grade A), Reeds Brook Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: John Bapst Memorial High School (grade A), Lee Academy (grade B), Highview Christian Academy (grade B)
- Top places: Orono (grade A), Hampden (grade A), Veazie (grade A minus)
#8. York County, Maine
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 212,691
- Median household income: $79,743
- Median home value: $323,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,166 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Mildred L. Day School (grade A), Sea Road School (grade A), Middle School of the Kennebunks (grade A)
- Top private schools: Berwick Academy (grade A+), The New School (grade A minus), Thornton Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Kennebunk (grade A minus), Kittery (grade B+), York (grade B+)
#7. Waldo County, Maine
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 39,772
- Median household income: $62,694
- Median home value: $210,600 (81% own)
- Median rent: $886 (19% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincolnville Central School (grade A), Samuel L. Wagner Middle School (grade B+), Leroy H. Smith School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Ironwood Maine (grade B), Belfast Area Children's Center (grade unavailable), South Liberty Baptist Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Belfast (grade B), Lincolnville (grade A minus), Winterport (grade B+)
#6. Kennebec County, Maine
- Overall Rank: 1,359
- Population: 124,003
- Median household income: $62,118
- Median home value: $198,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $900 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Williams Elementary School (grade A minus), James H. Bean School (grade A minus), Winthrop Grade School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Kents Hill School (grade A+), Temple Academy (grade B minus), Erskine Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places: Hallowell (grade A minus), Winslow (grade B+), Manchester (grade B)
#5. Hancock County, Maine
- Overall Rank: 936
- Population: 55,851
- Median household income: $64,149
- Median home value: $250,900 (79% own)
- Median rent: $949 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Conners-Emerson School (grade A+), Mt. Desert Elementary School (grade A), Lamoine Consolidated School (grade A)
- Top private schools: George Stevens Academy (grade B+), Blue Hill Harbor School (grade C), The Bay School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Bar Harbor (grade A), Ellsworth (grade B), Surry (grade B)
#4. Sagadahoc County, Maine
- Overall Rank: 872
- Population: 36,868
- Median household income: $77,591
- Median home value: $268,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $991 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: West Bath School (grade A), Bowdoin Central School (grade B+), Williams-Cone School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Hyde School (grade A+), Chop Point School (grade B), Providence's Merrymeeting Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: West Bath (grade A minus), Woolwich (grade A minus), Topsham (grade B+)
#3. Knox County, Maine
- Overall Rank: 832
- Population: 40,729
- Median household income: $68,904
- Median home value: $260,800 (79% own)
- Median rent: $1,027 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Appleton Village School (grade A), Camden-Rockport Middle School (grade A minus), Camden Hills Regional High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Watershed School (grade A), Ashwood Waldorf School (grade unavailable), Children's House Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Camden (grade A), Rockport (grade A minus), Rockland (grade B)
#2. Lincoln County, Maine
- Overall Rank: 657
- Population: 35,466
- Median household income: $69,638
- Median home value: $276,400 (83% own)
- Median rent: $930 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Great Salt Bay Community School (grade A), Nobleboro Central School (grade A), Bristol Consolidated School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Lincoln Academy (grade A minus), Coastal Christian School (grade C+), Kieve-Wavus Education Inc (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Newcastle (grade A), South Bristol (grade A minus), Damariscotta (grade A minus)
#1. Cumberland County, Maine
- Overall Rank: 282
- Population: 303,357
- Median household income: $87,710
- Median home value: $372,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,389 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Cape Elizabeth Middle School (grade A), Frank H. Harrison Middle School (grade A), Pond Cove Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Waynflete (grade A+), North Yarmouth Academy (grade A), Cheverus High School (grade A)
- Top places: Cape Elizabeth (grade A+), Falmouth (grade A+), Falmouth Foreside (grade A)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
