Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US official measure) / Counties in Maine

Counties in Maine by poverty rate

Washington County had the highest poverty rate of 16 counties in 2023, at 20.1%. Cumberland County had the lowest, at 6.9%. The median was 12.4% and the figure for Maine was 10.5%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Highest20.1Washington County
Lowest6.9Cumberland County
Median12.416 counties
Maine10.5History

All counties, 2023

CSVChart (SVG)

Washington CountyWashington County: 20.1 %20.1Piscataquis CountyPiscataquis County: 15.3 %15.3Oxford CountyOxford County: 14.5 %14.5Franklin CountyFranklin County: 13.6 %13.6Somerset CountySomerset County: 13.3 %13.3Androscoggin CountyAndroscoggin County: 13 %13Waldo CountyWaldo County: 12.7 %12.7Penobscot CountyPenobscot County: 12.6 %12.6Aroostook CountyAroostook County: 12.1 %12.1Kennebec CountyKennebec County: 11.5 %11.5Hancock CountyHancock County: 10.1 %10.1Lincoln CountyLincoln County: 9.8 %9.8Sagadahoc CountySagadahoc County: 8.7 %8.7Knox CountyKnox County: 8.6 %8.6York CountyYork County: 8.1 %8.1Cumberland CountyCumberland County: 6.9 %6.9
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Washington County20.1+4.5 pts
2Piscataquis County15.3+0.6 pts
3Oxford County14.5+1.8 pts
4Franklin County13.6-0.6 pts
5Somerset County13.3-2.1 pts
6Androscoggin County13+0.2 pts
7Waldo County12.7-0.3 pts
8Penobscot County12.6-2 pts
9Aroostook County12.1-3.3 pts
10Kennebec County11.5-0.7 pts
11Hancock County10.1-0.9 pts
12Lincoln County9.8+0.7 pts
13Sagadahoc County8.7-0.6 pts
14Knox County8.6-2 pts
15York County8.1-0.4 pts
16Cumberland County6.9+0.3 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People living in families or alone with income below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status can be determined. United States: Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), all ages.

Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people of all ages in poverty, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Use this data in your AI agent

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Rank Counties in Maine by poverty rate using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which county has the highest poverty rate?

Washington County, with 20.1% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest poverty rate?

Cumberland County, with 6.9% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people of all ages in poverty, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-08.

Poverty rate (US official measure): other rankings

Counties in Maine: more rankings