Best counties to raise a family in Maine

Written by:
September 1, 2023
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Best counties to raise a family in Maine

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Maine using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.

#16. Piscataquis County, Maine

- Population: 16,760
- Median home value: $119,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $741 (24% own)
- Median household income: $46,948
- Top public schools: Greenville Consolidated School (grade B minus), Se Do Mo Cha Elementary School (grade B minus), Se Do Mo Cha Middle School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Foxcroft Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Dover-Foxcroft (grade B), Sebec (grade B), Shirley (grade C+)

#15. Somerset County, Maine

- Population: 50,424
- Median home value: $124,200 (77% own)
- Median rent: $767 (23% own)
- Median household income: $47,488
- Top public schools: Athens Community School (grade A minus), Harmony Elementary School (grade B+), Canaan Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Maine Central Institute (grade A minus), Kennebec Montessori School (grade unavailable), Riverview Memorial School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Pittsfield (grade B minus), Skowhegan (grade B minus), Fairfield (grade C)

#14. Oxford County, Maine

- Population: 57,807
- Median home value: $157,600 (80% own)
- Median rent: $751 (20% own)
- Median household income: $51,384
- Top public schools: Woodstock School (grade B+), Telstar Middle School (grade B), Crescent Park School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Gould Academy (grade A+), Hebron Academy (grade A), Fryeburg Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Norway (grade B minus), Mexico (grade C+), Oxford (grade C+)

#13. Aroostook County, Maine

- Population: 67,272
- Median home value: $108,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $627 (27% own)
- Median household income: $47,278
- Top public schools: Maine School of Science & Mathematics (grade A+), Houlton Elementary School (grade A), Easton Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Greater Houlton Christian Academy (grade B), Carleton Project School (grade A minus), Opportunity Training Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Houlton (grade B), Mapleton (grade B), Presque Isle (grade B minus)

#12. Franklin County, Maine

- Population: 29,487
- Median home value: $153,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $701 (23% own)
- Median household income: $53,607
- Top public schools: W.G. Mallett School (grade A minus), Strong Elementary School (grade B+), Cape Cod Hill Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Carrabassett Valley Academy (grade A), New Life Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Farmington (grade B+), Jay (grade B), Chisholm (grade C+)

#11. Washington County, Maine

- Population: 31,003
- Median home value: $118,300 (78% own)
- Median rent: $605 (22% own)
- Median household income: $46,689
- Top public schools: Lubec Consolidated School (grade A), Pembroke Elementary School (grade A), Alexander Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Washington Academy (grade B), Machias Valley Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Calais (grade B), Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point Reservation (grade A minus), Lubec (grade A minus)

#10. Androscoggin County, Maine

- Population: 110,378
- Median home value: $175,100 (66% own)
- Median rent: $812 (34% own)
- Median household income: $59,287
- Top public schools: Durham Community School (grade A), Tripp Middle School (grade B+), Bruce M. Whittier Middle School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Saint Dominic Academy (grade A minus), Open Door Christian Academy (grade B+), Calvary Christian Academy (grade B)
- Top places to live: Greene (grade B minus), Lisbon (grade B minus), Auburn (grade B minus)

#9. Penobscot County, Maine

- Population: 152,211
- Median home value: $157,100 (70% own)
- Median rent: $870 (30% own)
- Median household income: $55,125
- Top public schools: Veazie Community School (grade A), Fruit Street School (grade A), William S. Cohen School (grade A)
- Top private schools: John Bapst Memorial High School (grade A), Bangor Christian Schools (grade B+), Lee Academy (grade B)
- Top places to live: Hampden (grade A+), Orono (grade A+), Veazie (grade A)

#8. Waldo County, Maine

- Population: 39,618
- Median home value: $183,800 (80% own)
- Median rent: $837 (20% own)
- Median household income: $59,880
- Top public schools: Lincolnville Central School (grade A), Drinkwater Elementary School (grade A minus), Islesboro Central 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 to live: Belfast (grade A minus), Winterport (grade A minus), Lincolnville (grade A minus)

#7. York County, Maine

- Population: 210,486
- Median home value: $278,900 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,090 (25% own)
- Median household income: $73,856
- Top public schools: Sea Road School (grade A), Kennebunkport Consolidated School (grade A), Kennebunk Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Berwick Academy (grade A+), Thornton Academy (grade A minus), Seacoast Waldorf School (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Kennebunk (grade A), Kennebunkport (grade A minus), Kittery Point (grade A minus)

#6. Hancock County, Maine

- Population: 55,417
- Median home value: $228,700 (78% own)
- Median rent: $865 (22% own)
- Median household income: $60,354
- Top public schools: Conners-Emerson School (grade A+), Mt. Desert Elementary School (grade A), Swans Island Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: George Stevens Academy (grade A minus), Blue Hill Harbor School (grade B), The Bay School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Bar Harbor (grade A+), Ellsworth (grade B), Surry (grade B minus)

#5. Lincoln County, Maine

- Population: 35,065
- Median home value: $233,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $855 (19% own)
- Median household income: $62,121
- Top public schools: Nobleboro Central School (grade A), Bristol Consolidated School (grade A), Great Salt Bay Community School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Lincoln Academy (grade A minus), Wiscasset Christian Academy (grade B+), Coastal Christian School (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: Newcastle (grade A), Boothbay Harbor (grade A minus), Damariscotta (grade A minus)

#4. Knox County, Maine

- Population: 40,519
- Median home value: $224,400 (79% own)
- Median rent: $927 (21% own)
- Median household income: $63,399
- Top public schools: Camden Hills Regional High School (grade A), Appleton Village School (grade A), Hope Elementary 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 to live: Camden (grade A+), Rockport (grade A), Rockland (grade B)

#3. Kennebec County, Maine

- Population: 123,293
- Median home value: $170,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $813 (28% own)
- Median household income: $58,097
- Top public schools: Fayette Central School (grade B+), Lillian Parks Hussey School (grade B+), Maranacook Community High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Kents Hill School (grade A+), Temple Academy (grade B minus), Erskine Academy (grade C+)
- Top places to live: Hallowell (grade A minus), Manchester (grade B+), Farmingdale (grade B+)

#2. Sagadahoc County, Maine

- Population: 36,530
- Median home value: $237,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $948 (23% own)
- Median household income: $73,343
- Top public schools: West Bath School (grade A minus), Phippsburg Elementary School (grade B+), Georgetown Central School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Hyde School (grade A+), Chop Point School (grade A minus), Providence's Merrymeeting Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: West Bath (grade A), Woolwich (grade A), Phippsburg (grade A minus)

#1. Cumberland County, Maine

- Population: 300,776
- Median home value: $314,700 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,273 (29% own)
- Median household income: $80,679
- Top public schools: Yarmouth High School (grade A+), Cape Elizabeth High School (grade A+), Pond Cove Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Waynflete (grade A+), Cheverus High School (grade A), North Yarmouth Academy (grade A)
- Top places to live: Back Cove (grade A+), Cape Elizabeth (grade A+), West End (grade A+)

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