1st Advantage MortgageThe median Oxford County household earns $60,173, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Oxford County by the numbers
- Oxford County housing compared with Maine
- Household income in Oxford County
- The Oxford County job picture
- The communities that make up Oxford County
- Oxford County and the counties next door
- A Oxford County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Oxford County data as a borrower
- People and households in Oxford County
- Steps before you apply in Oxford County
- Checking a lender's license in Maine
- More guides for Oxford County
- Frequently asked questions
Oxford County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Oxford County's population at 59,255; only 6 of Maine's 16 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 2,077 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 29 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Oxford County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 35 Census places inside Oxford County, Paris leads by population with about 5,317; 27 of the 35 are incorporated.
Oxford County housing compared with Maine
A typical Oxford County rental runs $836 a month including utilities, which is 27% below Maine. 54% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $217,300, about 3.6 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 81%.
| Cost | Oxford County | Maine figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $836/mo | $1,139/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $217,300 | $296,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 74% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 27% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 35% | 21% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Oxford 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. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Household income in Oxford County
At $60,173, the typical Oxford County household income is 8% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 12th among Maine's 16 county-level areas.
| Household income | Oxford County | vs Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.9% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.8% | -4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -3.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Oxford County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. 13.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.7%). For a borrower in Oxford County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Oxford County job picture
The biggest employer of Oxford County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Compared with Maine, the county leans toward construction (10% against 8%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.3% in Oxford County. Long commutes are common here: 22% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Oxford County share | +/- vs Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.0% | -0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 10.2% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.0% | -3.4 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The communities that make up Oxford County
The table lists the 14 largest of 35 Census places in Oxford County, by population. Together all 35 hold about 48,211 people, so roughly 19% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $92,550 at the median in Hebron, $29,230 in Rumford. Rent is cheapest in Canton ($485) and steepest in Sweden ($1,667). Live in one of these Oxford County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | town | 5,317 | $75,137 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Rumford | CDP | 4,067 | $29,230 | $785 | 9 mi |
| Norway | CDP | 3,173 | $43,432 | $759 | 20 mi |
| Buckfield | town | 2,403 | $77,917 | $521 | 24 mi |
| South Paris | CDP | 2,210 | $55,074 | $528 | 22 mi |
| Mexico | CDP | 2,142 | $50,972 | $972 | 11 mi |
| Otisfield | town | 1,951 | $84,271 | $1,300 | 29 mi |
| Brownfield | town | 1,830 | $60,889 | $1,617 | 40 mi |
| West Paris | town | 1,808 | $56,324 | $838 | 16 mi |
| Hiram | town | 1,748 | $62,813 | $1,070 | 45 mi |
| Porter | town | 1,746 | $60,417 | n/a | 47 mi |
| Dixfield | CDP | 1,738 | $70,608 | $534 | 15 mi |
| Peru | town | 1,501 | $66,827 | $723 | 14 mi |
| Fryeburg | CDP | 1,484 | $57,083 | $837 | 35 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Oxford County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 29 to 51 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Oxford County; Cumberland County is highest at $95,677 and Coos County lowest at $57,677. The list crosses into New Hampshire, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford County | - | $60,173 | $836/mo | 81% |
| Coos County, NH | 29 mi | $57,677 | $876/mo | 74% |
| Androscoggin County, ME | 34 mi | $67,873 | $1,010/mo | 68% |
| Franklin County, ME | 37 mi | $58,675 | $802/mo | 76% |
| Kennebec County, ME | 48 mi | $69,077 | $992/mo | 74% |
| Carroll County, NH | 49 mi | $86,463 | $1,195/mo | 83% |
| Cumberland County, ME | 51 mi | $95,677 | $1,589/mo | 70% |
A Oxford County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Oxford County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Oxford County: $5,014
- 17% goes to median rent ($836)
- $969: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Reading the Oxford County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Oxford County borrowers.
- Commuter costs. 22% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Older households. A 48.2 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Rent squeeze. 54% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
People and households in Oxford County
24% of Oxford County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Oxford County | Maine | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 44.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.0% | 36.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | 5.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 6.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 10.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 3.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Oxford County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.7% |
| 60+ min | 12.1% |
Steps before you apply in Oxford County
Quick steps for Oxford County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Oxford County-area credit union.
- A Maine license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Maine
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Oxford County, check the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions. 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. See the Maine state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Oxford County
The Maine guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Oxford County?
$60,173 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $74,733 for Maine. It ranks 12th of 16 in the state.
How does Oxford County rent compare with Maine?
$836 locally versus $1,139 for the state, 27% below.
I live in a small Oxford County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Paris, Rumford, Norway, Buckfield, South Paris and 30 more.
Are Oxford 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 Oxford County?
Start with the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.