You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in Maine.
The median household income in Cumberland County, the richest county in Maine is $87,710, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 16 counties in the Pine Tree State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In Maine For 2024
What is the richest county in Maine? The richest county in Maine is Cumberland County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Aroostook County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Maine. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Maine and the cheapest places to live in Maine.
The Richest Counties In Maine For 2024
1. Cumberland County
Biggest Place: Portland
Population: 303,357
Median Income: $87,710 (highest)
Median Home Price: $519,731 (highest)
More on Cumberland County: Data
2. York County
Biggest Place: Biddeford
Population: 212,691
Median Income: $79,743 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $482,744 (2nd highest)
More on York County: Data
3. Lincoln County
Biggest Place: Waldoboro
Population: 35,466
Median Income: $69,638 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $424,202 (3rd highest)
More on Lincoln County: Data
4. Knox County
Biggest Place: Rockland
Population: 40,729
Median Income: $68,904 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $414,995 (4th highest)
More on Knox County: Data
5. Sagadahoc County
Biggest Place: Bath
Population: 36,868
Median Income: $77,591 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $393,348 (6th highest)
More on Sagadahoc County: Data
6. Hancock County
Biggest Place: Ellsworth
Population: 55,851
Median Income: $64,149 (7th highest)
Median Home Price: $406,920 (5th highest)
More on Hancock County: Data
7. Androscoggin County
Biggest Place: Lewiston
Population: 111,532
Median Income: $64,500 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $305,092 (8th highest)
More on Androscoggin County: Data
8. Waldo County
Biggest Place: Belfast
Population: 39,772
Median Income: $62,694 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $314,990 (7th highest)
More on Waldo County: Data
9. Kennebec County
Biggest Place: Augusta
Population: 124,003
Median Income: $62,118 (9th highest)
Median Home Price: $299,241 (10th highest)
More on Kennebec County: Data
10. Oxford County
Biggest Place: Rumford
Population: 58,276
Median Income: $54,780 (12th highest)
Median Home Price: $303,496 (9th highest)
More on Oxford County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Maine county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in Maine, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in Maine for each of the criteria from one to 16, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In Maine.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Pine Tree State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in Maine. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In Maine For 2024
Living in Maine can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in Maine are Cumberland County, York County, Lincoln County, Knox County, Sagadahoc County, Hancock County, Androscoggin County, Waldo County, Kennebec County, and Oxford County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in Maine according to the data:
- Aroostook County
- Washington County
- Piscataquis County
For more Maine reading, check out:
- Cheapest Places To Live In Maine
- Best Counties To Live In Maine
- Richest Cities In Maine
- Safest Places In Maine
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Maine
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cumberland County | 303,357 | $87,710 | $519,731 |
| 2 | York County | 212,691 | $79,743 | $482,744 |
| 3 | Lincoln County | 35,466 | $69,638 | $424,202 |
| 4 | Knox County | 40,729 | $68,904 | $414,995 |
| 5 | Sagadahoc County | 36,868 | $77,591 | $393,348 |
| 6 | Hancock County | 55,851 | $64,149 | $406,920 |
| 7 | Androscoggin County | 111,532 | $64,500 | $305,092 |
| 8 | Waldo County | 39,772 | $62,694 | $314,990 |
| 9 | Kennebec County | 124,003 | $62,118 | $299,241 |
| 10 | Oxford County | 58,276 | $54,780 | $303,496 |
| 11 | Penobscot County | 152,640 | $59,438 | $250,226 |
| 12 | Franklin County | 29,839 | $56,890 | $270,786 |
| 13 | Somerset County | 50,656 | $53,527 | $217,491 |
| 14 | Piscataquis County | 16,936 | $51,805 | $213,516 |
| 15 | Washington County | 31,096 | $51,669 | $204,575 |
| 16 | Aroostook County | 67,237 | $50,843 | $159,174 |