1st Advantage MortgageKnox County households have a median income of $74,096 and median rent of $1,165 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
- A quick profile of Knox County
- Paychecks and income spread in Knox County
- Jobs and commutes in Knox County
- What it costs to live in Knox County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Knox County
- People and households in Knox County
- Before borrowing in Knox County
- A Knox County household budget, worked through
- Licensing and complaints for Knox County
- A Knox County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Knox County
With an estimated 41,003 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Knox County ranks 10th of 16 in Maine for population. Land area is 365 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 112 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 18 Census places inside Knox County, Rockland leads by population with about 7,035; 16 of the 18 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Knox County
At $74,096, the typical Knox County household income is 13% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Knox County | Gap to Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.5% | -1.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.1% | -3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.4% | +1.1 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 35% have six-figure incomes. 8.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.7%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.447 (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.
Jobs and commutes in Knox County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Knox County. About 69% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Knox County | Gap to Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -6.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Knox County
A typical Knox County rental runs $1,165 a month including utilities, which is 2% above Maine. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $324,900, a typical Knox County house costs 4.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 79% of homes.
| Home costs | Knox County | Maine | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,165/mo | $1,139/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $324,900 | $296,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 74% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 27% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.8% | 8.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 25% | 21% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Knox 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Neighboring counties at a glance
Lincoln County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Androscoggin County, is 59 miles off. Sagadahoc County leads the group on income ($87,806), Androscoggin County trails ($67,873), and Knox County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | - | $74,096 | $1,165/mo | 79% |
| Lincoln County, ME | 24 mi | $76,875 | $1,055/mo | 82% |
| Waldo County, ME | 30 mi | $72,782 | $1,021/mo | 82% |
| Sagadahoc County, ME | 41 mi | $87,806 | $1,098/mo | 78% |
| Kennebec County, ME | 44 mi | $69,077 | $992/mo | 74% |
| Hancock County, ME | 49 mi | $72,744 | $1,061/mo | 79% |
| Androscoggin County, ME | 59 mi | $67,873 | $1,010/mo | 68% |
The communities that make up Knox County
The table lists the 14 largest of 18 Census places in Knox County, by population. Together all 18 hold about 38,729 people, so roughly 6% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $89,155 at the median in St. George, $52,133 in Thomaston. Rent is cheapest in South Thomaston ($925) and steepest in Cushing ($1,553). None of the 18 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockland | city | 7,035 | $56,533 | $1,092 | 7 mi |
| Warren | town | 4,932 | $74,616 | $1,125 | 12 mi |
| Camden | CDP | 3,682 | $78,788 | $1,149 | 12 mi |
| Rockport | town | 3,675 | $86,979 | $1,194 | 9 mi |
| Union | town | 2,663 | $80,724 | $1,179 | 18 mi |
| St. George | town | 2,606 | $89,155 | $1,465 | 13 mi |
| Thomaston | CDP | 2,055 | $52,133 | $1,119 | 8 mi |
| Hope | town | 1,748 | $86,766 | $1,219 | 16 mi |
| Washington | town | 1,624 | $59,861 | $1,036 | 23 mi |
| Owls Head | town | 1,482 | $87,325 | $1,191 | 2 mi |
| Cushing | town | 1,460 | $83,500 | $1,553 | 11 mi |
| South Thomaston | town | 1,381 | $86,838 | $925 | 5 mi |
| Appleton | town | 1,360 | $53,618 | $1,104 | 21 mi |
| Vinalhaven | town | 1,216 | $72,963 | $1,017 | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
People and households in Knox County
40% of Knox County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Knox County | Maine | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 44.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 39.7% | 36.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.2% | 5.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | 6.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.6% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 10.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 3.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Knox County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Before borrowing in Knox County
Based on the Knox County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Retirees. At a median age of 49.5, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
A Knox County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Knox County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,175 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,165, which is 19% of it
- $1,490: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Knox County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for Knox County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Knox County, check the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions. The Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection handles consumer-credit questions as well. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Maine: Maine personal loans.
A Knox County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Knox County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Maine borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Maine guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Knox County?
$74,096 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,733 for Maine. It ranks 5th of 16 in the state.
What do renters pay in Knox County?
$1,165 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
I live in a small Knox County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Rockland, Warren, Camden, Rockport, Union and 13 more.
Are Knox 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Knox County?
Start with the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.