Image by Jennifer Baum
You should never judge a book by its cover (or a state by its numbers), but it’s nonetheless interesting what you can learn about a community by studying its vital statistics. If you’re thinking about relocating in Maine you should know that each of Maine’s sixteen counties has an identity of its own, and you’ll want to do some research to discover where you best fit. With that in mind, here’s a pocket tour of the Pine Tree State that should help you keep your Aroostook and your Androscoggin straight.
 
Androscoggin County
Named for the state’s third-largest river, Androscroggin County is home to the Twin Cities of Lewiston and Auburn, otherwise known as L-A. These former mill towns attracted a large French-Canadian population in the nineteenth century, and French is still spoken in many quarters. Home to a professional theater, a symphony orchestra, and Bates College, L-A is in the midst of a cultural and economic renaissance. Outside these twin centers of commerce is a bucolic landscape dotted with quiet villages, lakes, ponds, and the revitalized Androscoggin River, a prime spot for kayaking, canoeing, and fly-fishing. Population in 2008: 106,877, an increase of 15,598 from 1970. Largest communities: Lewiston (36,131), Auburn (23,177), Lisbon (9,316), Turner (5,575), Poland (5,389), and Sabattus (4,648). In 2007, 84.3 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 18.4 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $46,400. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 11.1 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 29.2 in January to a low of 60.7 and a high of 80.7 in July.
 
Aroostook County
Jutting up into the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec, Aroostook County is steeped in Acadian culture. Pristine and unpretentious, it is often called simply the County because of its vast size. Miles and miles of rolling agricultural fields are largely devoted to potatoes, a breathtaking sight when in bloom. To the west and north are vast stretches of towering timber and more than two thousand lakes, rivers, and streams, including much of the legendary Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Presque Isle, the County’s largest city, is home to a branch of the University of Maine, as is Fort Kent. Other hubs include Caribou, Fort Fairfield, and Madawaska. Population in 2008: 71,676, a decrease of 22,402 from 1970. Largest communities: Presque Isle (9,104), Caribou (8,093), Houlton (6,144), Madawaska (4,336), Fort Kent (4,182), and Fort Fairfield (3,450). In 2000, 76.9 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 14.6 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $35,438. Average daily temperatures range from a low of -1.6 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 19.4 in January to a low of 54.5 and a high of 76.5 in July.

 
Cumberland County
Fast-growing Cumberland County contains Portland, Maine’s business, retail, and financial capital. Beautifully sited on Casco Bay, Portland offers a wealth of cultural and recreational activities and a dining scene that has been trumpeted by Bon Appétit and the New York Times. Portland International Jetport and the Maine Mall, an enclosed shopping area with national chain stores, are in neighboring South Portland. Outside the seaside cities, small towns retain their historic New England village appeal despite brisk residential growth. The county is also home to Sebago, Maine’s second largest lake, and the renowned sporting goods retailer L.L. Bean, which has attracted scores of factory outlet stores to once sleepy Freeport. Population in 2008: 276,047, an increase of 83,519 from 1970. Largest communities: Portland (62,561), South Portland (23,803), Brunswick (21,720), Scarborough (19,054), Windham (16,715), and Westbrook (16,534). In 2007, 93 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 40.4 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $54,992. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 11.4 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 30.3 in January to a low of 58.3 and a high of 78.8 in July.
 
Franklin County
Beautiful and unspoiled, Franklin County is an important center for tourism. You’ll find many outdoor recreational areas, including Carrabassett Valley, home of Sugarloaf/USA, a popular ski mountain; Saddleback Mountain; the Bigelow mountains; and more than a hundred lakes and ponds, including those in the magnificent Rangeley Lakes region. One of Maine’s earliest resort areas, the town of Rangeley enjoys mountain vistas and easy access to the lakes. Franklin County’s commercial hub is Farmington, home to the University of Maine at Farmington, selected one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Farmington is enjoying a quiet renaissance as a retirement center. Population in 2008: 29,857, an increase of 7,413 from 1970. Largest communities: Farmington (7,545), Jay (4,772), Wilton (4,171), New Sharon (1,415), Strong (1,202), and Kingfield (1,146). In 2000, 85.2 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 20.9 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $39,929. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 25.8 in January to a low of 53.4 and a high of 79 in July.
 
Hancock County
The resort town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are the best-known features of Hancock County, together drawing more than three million visitors a year. Bar Harbor has the inns, shops, and restaurants one would expect of a national-park gateway, and it’s home to a highly regarded environmental school, the College of the Atlantic. Most of Acadia, including Cadillac Mountain, the tallest peak on the eastern seaboard, is on Mount Desert Island. Travel south from Ellsworth to Deer Isle to explore the picturesque seaside towns of Blue Hill, Brooklin, and Stonington, as well as Castine, home of the Maine Maritime Academy and one of the most beautiful villages in the state. Population in 2008: 53,137, an increase of 18,637 from 1970. Largest communities: Ellsworth (7,103), Bar Harbor (5,129), Bucksport (4,893), Blue Hill (2,216), Orland (1,991), and Southwest Harbor (1,942). In 2000, 87.8 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 27.1 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $44,632. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 10.5 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 30.1 in January to a low of 57 and a high of 77.9 in July.
 
Kennebec County
Maine’s capital city, Augusta, straddles the banks of the mighty river for which this county is named. Once a trading post for the Pilgrims, Augusta provides cultural and recreational activities as well as the workings of Maine’s government. Nearby are the charming cities of Gardiner and Hallowell, as well as the towns of Farmingdale and Monmouth. The Belgrade and Winthrop lakes regions are popular residential and recreational areas. Kennebec County is home to scores of lakes and ponds, including eight-mile-long China Lake. Not far away is the city of Waterville, home to Colby College, one of the country’s top private liberal arts institutions. Population in 2008: 120,959, an increase of 25,653 from 1970. Largest communities: Augusta (18,282), Waterville (16,016), Winslow (7,845), Winthrop (6,429), Oakland (6,184), and Gardiner (6,100). In 2007, 90 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 25.2 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $43,913. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 27.6 in January to a low of 60.1 and a high of 79 in July.
 
Knox County
Knox County is a mix of bustling tourist towns, quiet fishing villages, rural inland communities, and hundreds of islands in Penobscot Bay — some of them, like North Haven, Vinalhaven, and Matinicus, inhabited year-round. The largest city is Rockland, an eclectic mix of working waterfront and artsy downtown, which is currently enjoying great cultural prosperity thanks in part to the Farnsworth Art Museum, one of the nation’s best small museums. Snuggled between the Camden Hills, a ridge of low mountains that offer sweeping views of the bay, is the picturesque town of Camden, a vacation hotspot. Population in 2008: 40,686, an increase of 11,673 from 1970. Largest communities: Rockland (7,436), Camden (5,220), Warren (4,217), Thomaston (3,656), Rockport (3,518), and St. George (2,693). In 2000, 87.5 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 26.2 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household
income in 2007 was $44,619. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 10.2 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 32 in January to a low of 57.1 and a high of 79.9 in July.
 
Lincoln County
Lincoln County contains no cities, but it is home to the self-proclaimed “prettiest village in Maine,” Wiscasset, which is indeed a charming place of fine architecture nestled alongside the Sheepscot River. Other Lincoln County communities include the well-known resort town of Boothbay Harbor, Newcastle, and Waldoboro. Located between the ocean and lovely Damariscotta Lake, the town of Damariscotta has enjoyed an influx of retirees in recent years. Monhegan, reached by ferry from Port Clyde, New Harbor, and Boothbay Harbor, is probably Maine’s most famous island, thanks to the work of such internationally known artists as Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper, and Jamie Wyeth.  Population in 2008: 34,628, an increase of 14,091 from 1970. Largest communities: Waldoboro (5,004), Wiscasset (3,752), Boothbay (3,211), Bristol (2,778), Jefferson (2,541), and Boothbay Harbor (2,251). In 2000, 87.9 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 26.6 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $45,816. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 30.1 in January to a low of 59.3 and a high of 77.9 in July.
 
Oxford County
Defined by Maine’s western mountains, Oxford County is peppered with quaint towns with foreign sounding names — Norway, Mexico, Denmark, Sweden, and Paris — that offer unmatched proximity to skiing, hiking, canoeing, and other outdoor activities. Bethel, a classic New England village of old homes and farms, is nestled in the pastoral Oxford Hills, alongside the Androscoggin River, the county’s main artery. Close by is the Sunday River Ski Resort and the Sunday River Bridge, one of the most photographed covered bridges in the state. The county’s largest community is the paper mill town of Rumford, located in the scenic River Valley. Population in 2008: 56,741, an increase of 13,284 from 1970. Largest communities: Rumford (6,310), Paris (4,962), Norway (4,765), Oxford (3,926), Fryeburg (3,335), and Mexico (2,866). In 2000, 82.4 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 15.7 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $38,359. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 5.8 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 27.2 in January to a low of 56.4 and a high of 79.6 in July.
 
Penobscot County
Penobscot County encompasses the best of rural and cosmopolitan Maine. Smack in the middle of the state, it’s home to one of Maine’s largest cities, Bangor. The Queen City and neighboring Orono, where the University of Maine campus is a city unto itself, together create a lively culture of good food, art, education, and music. As the county’s name reflects, the mighty Penobscot River is the region’s lifeblood. Follow it for several miles from Bangor and you’ll be treated to exquisite views of Mount Katahdin. Population in 2008: 148,651, an increase of 23,258 from 1970. Largest communities: Bangor (31,756), Orono (9,670), Brewer (9,035), Old Town (7,709), Hampden (6,914), and Lincoln (5,258). In 2007, 88.7 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 22.8 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $41,348. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 8.2 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 26.7 in January to a low of 58.3 and a high of 78.1 in July.
 
Piscataquis County
Piscataquis County is a region of superlatives. Within its boundaries are Baxter State Park, Maine’s largest wilderness park (more than two hundred thousand acres); Mount Katahdin, Maine’s highest mountain (5,268 feet); and Moosehead Lake, the state’s largest lake (75,451 acres). All that and part of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, a nationally known canoe camping route, too. With only an average of four people per square mile, this area is fiercely rural, heavily wooded, and filled with stunning physical backdrops. Nearly 10 percent of the 4,300 square miles is covered by water, making the county’s name, which comes from the Abenaki term for “at the river branch,” particularly apt. Population in 2008: 16,961, an increase of 676 from 1970. Largest communities: Dover-Foxcroft (4,220), Milo (2,320), Greenville (1,712), Guilford (1,438), Brownville (1,289), and Sangerville (1,192). In 2000, 80.3 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 13.3 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $32,989. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 2.4 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 24.2 in January to a low of 54.5 and a high of 78.6 in July.
 
Sagadahoc County
Maine’s smallest county, Sagadahoc encapsulates Merrymeeting Bay, where six rivers meet, attracting migrating ducks and geese en route to warmer climes. On the largest of these rivers, the Kennebec, sits the city of Bath, where a centuries-old shipbuilding tradition continues at Bath Iron Works, whose massive crane is the city’s most prominent landmark. Bath boasts a beautifully preserved nineteenth-century downtown of brick and granite and the Maine Maritime Museum. Topsham, the next-largest community, is the area’s fastest-growing town and a retirement destination. Other communities include the bucolic bayside villages of Bowdoin and Bowdoinham and, across the Kennebec from Bath, rural Woolwich. Population in 2008: 36,332, an increase of 12,880 from 1970. Largest communities: Bath (9,266), Topsham (9,100), Richmond (3,415), Bowdoin (2,969), Woolwich (2,941), and Bowdoinham (2,753). In 2000, 88 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 25 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $52,375. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 30.1 in January to a low of 59.3 and a high of 77.9 in July.
 
Somerset County
This heavily forested county forms what is known as the Kennebec and Moose River Valley, spanning from central Maine to the northwest border with Quebec. Before he famously switched sides, American Revolutionary Army Colonel Benedict Arnold led an expedition through this wilderness to British-occupied Quebec. One of Maine’s premier white-water rafting locations, thanks to the presence of the Dead and Kennebec rivers, Somerset County contains several small towns, including Skowhegan, the home of the late Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House and Senate. Skowhegan hosts one of Maine’s largest agricultural fairs and a prestigious school of painting. Population in 2008: 51,377, an increase of 10,780 from 1970. Largest communities: Skowhegan (8,679), Fairfield (6,703), Madison (4,570), Pittsfield (4,217), Norridgewock (3,248), and Anson (2,542). In 2000, 80.8 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 11.8 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $35,683. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 2.1 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 26.8 in January to a low of 55.6 and a high of 79.1 in July.
 
Waldo County
Less than one thousand square miles, Waldo County combines the serene natural beauty of woods and coast with easy access to the amenities of more populated communities. The county has its own thriving cultural centers, such as the city of Belfast, a haven for artists, musicians, foodies, and environmentally minded businesses. Other towns include coastal Lincolnville and Searsport, famous for its sea captains’ homes, the patriotic-sounding inland communities of Liberty, Freedom, and Unity, and the island town of Islesboro, where actors John Travolta and Kirstie Alley have summer homes. Population in 2008: 38,342, an increase of 15,014 from 1970. Largest communities: Belfast (6,721), Winterport (3,527), Searsport (2,584), Lincolnville (2,187), Unity (2,120), and Stockton Springs (1,613). In 2000, 84.6 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 22.3 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $40,441. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 10.7 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 32 in January to a low of 57.1 and a high of 79.9 in July.
 
Washington County
Blueberries and fishing — these are the traditional industries in this stunning Down East county that sees the first rays of sun in the country. A trip through this part of Maine reveals rocky coasts and sandy beaches, dramatic oceanside cliffs and blueberry barrens. Nature preserves dot the landscape: Petit Manan in Steuben, Great Wass Island in Beals, Roque Bluffs State Park south of Machias, Cobscook Bay State Park in Dennysville, and Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge outside Calais — all set before miles and miles of oceanfront. Though tourism is a major industry, Washington County sees far fewer visitors than its southern coastal counterparts. Cross-border relationships with neighboring Canadians are a way of life for many. Population in 2008: 32,499, an increase of 3,640 from 1970. Largest communities: Calais (3,184), Machias (2,134), Baileyville (1,554), Eastport (1,536), Lubec (1,528), and Jonesport (1,434). In 2000, 79.9 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 14.7 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $32,624. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 13.9 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 29.7 in January to a low of 53 and a high of 72.9 in July.
 
York County
Maine’s oldest and southernmost county was founded in 1652 as Yorkshire Province. It boasts all the perks of Maine living — beautiful beaches, quaint villages, and safe, close-knit communities — within commuting distance of Boston, Portsmouth, and Portland. Tourists flock by the thousands to the famed villages of Kennebunkport and Ogunquit. Kittery, to the south, is famous for its outlet shopping, and Old Orchard Beach, in the north, for its beachfront boardwalk. The neighboring cities of Biddeford and Saco make up York County’s largest center of commerce. The towns of Sanford and Wells are other notable spots. Population in 2008: 201,686, an increase of 90,110 from 1970. Largest communities: Biddeford (21,435), Sanford (21,156), Saco (18,125), York (14,064), Kennebunk (11,448), and Kittery (10,427). In 2007, 89.4 percent of residents had high school diplomas, and 26.4 percent had bachelor’s degrees or higher. Median household income in 2007 was $52,365. Average daily temperatures range from a low of 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit and a high of 32.5 in January to a low of 57.1 and a high of 83.2 in July.