Maine · GEOID 23021

Piscataquis County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 17,263 · 14,680 housing units

Median household income

$61,345

State $76,630

Median home value

$170,200

State $306,392

Median gross rent

$837

State $1,186

Homeownership rate

78.8%

State 74.3%

Renter cost-burden rate

37.9%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

20.4%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.2%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

5.9%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

42.9%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.77

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Piscataquis County	Maine
Population	17,263	1,387,817
Population density (per sq. mi.)	4.36	—
Median household income	$61,345	$76,630
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$72,100	—
Households	8,385	—
Average household size	2.02 people	—
Owner-occupied	78.8%	74.3%
Renter-occupied	21.2%	25.7%
Race	93.2% White · 1.0% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Piscataquis County compared with Maine.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

21.6% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 36.2%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	27.5%	$44,077	$1,102	$133,050
1 earner	30.0%	$53,909	$1,348	$169,648
2 earners	34.5%	$98,510	$2,463	$335,668
3+ earners	7.9%	$168,750	$4,219	$597,125

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

8,385

Average size: 2.02 people

Households with children

1,690

20.2% of households

Per-capita income

$37,077

Poverty rate: 16.4%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

78.8% owner-occupied vs. state average 74.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 82.4% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 5.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

53.8% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,978.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $170,200.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $837.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 6,295 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 0.2% · For rent 1.8% · Seasonal 89.5% · Other 7.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

3.2% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 96.8% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

38.4%

5,632 units of 14,680 total

⚑ Above the 10% threshold — meaningful pressure on year-round residents from second-home / short-term-rental demand.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

3.2%

463 units of 14,680 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$49,076

100% MHI$61,345

120% MHI$73,614

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Piscataquis County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$51,450	$58,800	$73,500
100% AMI	$50,470	$57,680	$72,100
120% AMI	$60,550	$69,200	$86,500

HUD FMR Area: Piscataquis County, ME. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

37.9% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (14.1% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

20.4% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Piscataquis County.

Covered employment

4,428

Across 13 sectors

Establishments

446

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$46,247

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	999	$57,940	$184,653	+$14,453	$1,449
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	919	$56,450	$179,107	+$8,907	$1,411
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	909	$36,174	$103,632	−$66,568	$904
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	642	$40,810	$120,889	−$49,311	$1,020
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	467	$27,157	$70,068	−$100,132	$679
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	203	$42,149	$125,873	−$44,327	$1,054
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	117	$52,416	$164,091	−$6,109	$1,310
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	51	$91,068	$307,966	+$137,766	$2,277
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	46	$24,393	$59,780	−$110,420	$610
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	29	$37,321	$107,902	−$62,298	$933
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	19	$23,178	$55,257	−$114,943	$579
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	15	$77,715	$258,262	+$88,062	$1,943
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	12	$9,485	$4,287	−$165,913	$237

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	642	$40,810	$120,889	−$49,311	$1,020
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	303	$59,364	$189,953	+$19,753	$1,484
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	280	$27,489	$71,304	−$98,896	$687
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	214	$54,119	$170,430	+$230	$1,353
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	183	$34,257	$96,497	−$73,703	$856
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	169	$40,565	$119,977	−$50,223	$1,014
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	138	$52,169	$163,171	−$7,029	$1,304
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	111	$48,499	$149,510	−$20,690	$1,212
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	103	$31,071	$84,637	−$85,563	$777
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	77	$30,605	$82,903	−$87,297	$765
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	53	$35,730	$101,980	−$68,220	$893
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	51	$91,068	$307,966	+$137,766	$2,277
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	51	$69,250	$226,752	+$56,552	$1,731
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	50	$37,804	$109,700	−$60,500	$945
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	49	$35,712	$101,913	−$68,287	$893
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	45	$57,767	$184,009	+$13,809	$1,444
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	45	$39,974	$117,777	−$52,423	$999
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	36	$44,619	$135,068	−$35,132	$1,115
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	33	$59,090	$188,934	+$18,734	$1,477
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	31	$51,836	$161,932	−$8,268	$1,296
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	30	$45,359	$137,822	−$32,378	$1,134
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	29	$37,321	$107,902	−$62,298	$933
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	21	$45,048	$136,664	−$33,536	$1,126
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	17	$42,905	$128,687	−$41,513	$1,073
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	13	$55,282	$174,759	+$4,559	$1,382
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	13	$23,155	$55,171	−$115,029	$579
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	12	$9,485	$4,287	−$165,913	$237
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	12	$13,741	$20,129	−$150,071	$344
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	8	$54,364	$171,342	+$1,142	$1,359
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	2	$48,834	$150,757	−$19,443	$1,221
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	1	$29,546	$78,961	−$91,239	$739
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	1	$3,702	$0	−$170,200	$93

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,950	(530)	(21%)	$16.46	$34,240	$96,433	$856
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	1,540	(210)	(12%)	$17.10	$35,570	$101,384	$889
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	450	200	80%	$18.27	$38,010	$110,467	$950
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,680	(520)	(24%)	$19.05	$39,610	$116,422	$990
Tellers SOC 43-3071	380	(190)	(33%)	$19.49	$40,530	$119,847	$1,013
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,000	(510)	(34%)	$19.52	$40,600	$120,107	$1,015
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,050	(690)	(40%)	$20.37	$42,370	$126,696	$1,059
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,310	40	3%	$21.42	$44,560	$134,848	$1,114
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	380	140	58%	$22.12	$46,010	$140,245	$1,150
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	220	90	69%	$23.47	$48,820	$150,705	$1,221
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	900	(220)	(20%)	$23.49	$48,850	$150,817	$1,221
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	780	160	26%	$24.66	$51,300	$159,937	$1,283
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,370	70	5%	$25.48	$52,990	$166,227	$1,325
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,010	70	7%	—	$60,910	$195,708	$1,523
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	770	120	18%	$29.61	$61,590	$198,239	$1,540
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	80	(160)	(67%)	$29.87	$62,140	$200,287	$1,554
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	270	(60)	(18%)	$30.95	$64,370	$208,587	$1,609
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	120	(10)	(8%)	$31.46	$65,430	$212,533	$1,636
Electricians SOC 47-2111	260	90	53%	$34.96	$72,720	$239,669	$1,818
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,520	(120)	(7%)	$40.60	$84,450	$283,332	$2,111

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 23021 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.