1st Advantage MortgageAbout 77% of York County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $88,333. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- York County at a glance
- Earnings across York County households
- Labor force snapshot: York County
- The York County housing market in figures
- Where York County differs from the rest of Maine
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside York County
- Room for a loan payment in York County
- Reading the York County data as a borrower
- York County demographics against Maine
- Checking a lender's license in Maine
- Before you sign
- Beyond York County
- Frequently asked questions
York County at a glance
York County is home to about 216,731 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 2nd most populous of 16 county-level areas in Maine. Packed into 991 square miles, that is close to 219 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Portland-South Portland, ME metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Biddeford (22,498 people) heads the county's list of 36 Census places, 20 incorporated and 16 census-designated.
Earnings across York County households
The median household income in York County is $88,333; statewide it is $74,733, so York County runs 18% above Maine as a whole.
| Yearly household income | York County | Gap to Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.3% | -4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.6% | +5.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.1% | +1.7 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 44% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 7.7% of York County residents in poverty, against 10.7% across Maine. Gini index for York County: 0.427. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the York County median.
Labor force snapshot: York County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Compared with Maine, the county leans toward manufacturing (12% against 9%). Unemployment in York County, ACS five-year: 3.4%; Maine: 3.8%. Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4,321 York County households, 4.7%, have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | York County | Difference from Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.4% | -3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.1% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The York County housing market in figures
A typical York County rental runs $1,339 a month including utilities, which is 18% above Maine. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. With a median value of $395,700, a typical York County house costs 4.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 77%, renters 23%.
| Cost | York County | Maine figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,339/mo | $1,139/mo | 18% higher |
| Median home value | $395,700 | $296,600 | 33% higher |
| Owners | 77% | 74% | +3.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 48% | -4.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 27% | +1.8 pts |
| Mobile homes | 6.1% | 8.2% | -2.0 pts |
Because most York County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Where York County differs from the rest of Maine
- On median home value, York County sits near the top of Maine at $395,700, 2nd highest of 16. High values mean many owners could borrow against equity; weigh that risk carefully.
- York County ranks 2nd lowest of 16 Maine counties for households without a vehicle: 4.7%, against 6.8% statewide. Nearly every household has a vehicle, so repair costs are a common reason to borrow.
- York County ranks 2nd highest of 16 Maine counties for median gross rent: $1,339/mo, against $1,139/mo statewide. Rent this high leaves less room in a debt-to-income test.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 52 miles). Richest neighbor: Rockingham County, $118,331. Poorest: Carroll County, $86,463. York County: $88,333. Some neighbors are in New Hampshire. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a York County resident follows Maine rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| York County | - | $88,333 | $1,339/mo | 77% |
| Strafford County, NH | 21 mi | $88,570 | $1,488/mo | 67% |
| Cumberland County, ME | 31 mi | $95,677 | $1,589/mo | 70% |
| Rockingham County, NH | 37 mi | $118,331 | $1,687/mo | 78% |
| Belknap County, NH | 38 mi | $92,783 | $1,167/mo | 80% |
| Carroll County, NH | 41 mi | $86,463 | $1,195/mo | 83% |
| Merrimack County, NH | 52 mi | $97,004 | $1,360/mo | 73% |
Places inside York County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 36 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 94% of York County residents live in one of the 36. Kittery Point ($141,086) and Newfield ($57,188) mark the top and bottom of York County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $769 in Alfred to $2,288 in Lake Arrowhead. This guide covers each of the 36 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biddeford | city | 22,498 | $72,333 | $1,292 | 14 mi |
| Sanford | city | 22,247 | $72,524 | $1,152 | 4 mi |
| Saco | city | 20,819 | $92,241 | $1,249 | 14 mi |
| York | town | 13,986 | $121,250 | $1,490 | 18 mi |
| Wells | town | 11,713 | $88,024 | $1,350 | 8 mi |
| Old Orchard Beach | CDP | 9,244 | $60,050 | $1,246 | 17 mi |
| Buxton | town | 8,512 | $100,144 | $1,613 | 16 mi |
| Waterboro | town | 8,055 | $89,392 | $1,200 | 13 mi |
| Eliot | town | 7,146 | $101,522 | $1,948 | 20 mi |
| Lebanon | town | 6,629 | $97,750 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Kennebunk | CDP | 6,221 | $95,169 | $1,466 | 7 mi |
| Kittery | CDP | 5,110 | $84,730 | $1,697 | 23 mi |
| Hollis | town | 4,872 | $95,950 | $1,372 | 14 mi |
| Lyman | town | 4,612 | $87,284 | $1,063 | 5 mi |
Room for a loan payment in York County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to York County's medians:
- $88,333 a year is $7,361 of gross monthly income
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,339)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,237 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,973 a month
Homeowners in York County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Reading the York County data as a borrower
- Older households. A 45.3 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Higher earners. 44% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
York County demographics against Maine
Degree holders: 36% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | York County | Gap to Maine | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | -3.1 pts | -5.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | -2.0 pts | -0.7 pts |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | -1.3 pts | -3.0 pts |
| Work from home | 16.8% | +0.9 pts | +8.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 4.6% | -0.7 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 45.3 | +0.5 yrs | +3.8 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | -0.4 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.2% | +0.1 pts | +14.1 pts |
| Commute length | York County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.0% |
Checking a lender's license in Maine
York County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions. A second Maine office, the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, covers consumer credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. State-level detail for York County borrowers is in the Maine guide.
Before you sign
Quick steps for York County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Beyond York County
For statewide rules and data, see the Maine guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical York County household make?
About $88,333 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 18% above the Maine median.
What is the median rent in York County, ME?
$1,339 a month, utilities included, or $16,068 a year.
I live in a small York County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Biddeford, Sanford, Saco, York, Wells and 31 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in York County or elsewhere in Maine, the same rules apply.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in York County?
Look it up with the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.