1st Advantage MortgageAroostook County households have a median income of $56,700 and median rent of $784 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Maine license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Aroostook County
- Work, industries and travel time in Aroostook County
- How much Aroostook County households make
- Renting and owning in Aroostook County
- The communities that make up Aroostook County
- Aroostook County next to its neighbors
- Room for a loan payment in Aroostook County
- More Aroostook County figures
- Before borrowing in Aroostook County
- Who licenses lenders for Aroostook County residents
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Aroostook County
With an estimated 67,058 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Aroostook County ranks 6th of 16 in Maine for population. Land area is 6,671 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 10 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Aroostook County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Presque Isle is the biggest of its 63 Census places, at roughly 8,736 people (13% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Aroostook County
The biggest employer of Aroostook County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 5% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Aroostook County. 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Households without a car make up 8.6% of the total (6.8% statewide).
| Where residents work | Aroostook County | Difference from Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.5% | -0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | +2.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | -0.9 pts |
| Public administration | 6.5% | +2.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
How much Aroostook County households make
The median household income in Aroostook County is $56,700; statewide it is $74,733, so Aroostook County runs 24% below Maine as a whole. Only 14 Maine counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Aroostook County | vs Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.9% | +8.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.6% | -6.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -4.9 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. 14.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.7%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.465 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Aroostook County
A typical Aroostook County rental runs $784 a month including utilities, which is 31% below Maine. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. With a median value of $149,700, a typical Aroostook County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 75% of Aroostook County households own their home and 25% rent.
| Measure | Aroostook County | Maine | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $784/mo | $1,139/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $149,700 | $296,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 74% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.2% | 8.2% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Aroostook County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The communities that make up Aroostook County
63 Census places fall mainly inside Aroostook County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 53,364 residents, leaving about 20% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $81,146 at the median in Mapleton, $38,851 in Van Buren. Median rent ranges from $365 in Mapleton to $932 in Wallagrass. No Aroostook County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 63.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presque Isle | city | 8,736 | $55,768 | $904 | 29 mi |
| Caribou | city | 7,382 | $53,709 | $757 | 33 mi |
| Houlton | CDP | 5,082 | $59,236 | $814 | 55 mi |
| Madawaska | CDP | 3,022 | $55,666 | $626 | 46 mi |
| Fort Kent | CDP | 2,398 | $50,513 | $901 | 38 mi |
| Van Buren | CDP | 1,634 | $38,851 | $733 | 45 mi |
| Fort Fairfield | CDP | 1,533 | $56,452 | $453 | 37 mi |
| Easton | town | 1,433 | $53,309 | $510 | 37 mi |
| Hodgdon | town | 1,428 | $54,519 | $695 | 59 mi |
| Linneus | town | 1,226 | $65,114 | n/a | 55 mi |
| Limestone | CDP | 1,079 | $52,607 | $605 | 40 mi |
| Frenchville | town | 971 | $55,461 | $545 | 40 mi |
| Sherman | town | 947 | $49,444 | $672 | 58 mi |
| Washburn | CDP | 888 | $49,250 | $446 | 23 mi |
Aroostook County next to its neighbors
Piscataquis County is closest, 60 miles from center to center; the sixth, Hancock County, is 149 miles off. Income ranges from $56,024 in Washington County to $72,744 in Hancock County; 5 of these neighbors top Aroostook County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aroostook County | - | $56,700 | $784/mo | 75% |
| Piscataquis County, ME | 60 mi | $61,345 | $837/mo | 79% |
| Penobscot County, ME | 90 mi | $66,356 | $1,041/mo | 71% |
| Somerset County, ME | 105 mi | $58,179 | $910/mo | 77% |
| Washington County, ME | 130 mi | $56,024 | $783/mo | 80% |
| Franklin County, ME | 148 mi | $58,675 | $802/mo | 76% |
| Hancock County, ME | 149 mi | $72,744 | $1,061/mo | 79% |
Room for a loan payment in Aroostook County
How much room does a median Aroostook County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $56,700 a year is $4,725 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $784, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $1,701 total minus rent leaves $917
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Aroostook County figures
Degree holders: 23% of adults over 25. 8.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Aroostook County | Maine | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 44.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.4% | 36.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | 5.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.0% | 6.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.6% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 10.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 3.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.2% |
Before borrowing in Aroostook County
A few patterns in the Aroostook County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who licenses lenders for Aroostook County residents
The Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Maine license. The Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection handles consumer-credit questions as well. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Maine guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Aroostook County borrowers:
- Price the Aroostook County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Maine.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Maine guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Aroostook County?
$56,700 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,733 for Maine. It ranks 15th of 16 in the state.
What do renters pay in Aroostook County?
$784 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I own my home in Aroostook County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Presque Isle?
Yes, along with the other 62 Census places in Aroostook County, such as Caribou, Houlton, Madawaska.
Are Aroostook County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.