City · Maine

Bangor, Maine

Bangor, city, in Penobscot County, Maine. Bangor had 32,518 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 31,753 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 31,938 (±28). GEOID 2302795.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

32,518

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 31,753 · ACS 2020-2024: 31,938 ±28

Median household income

$59,942

±$7,028 (90% margin)
Maine: $74,733

Median home value

$219,600

±$10,305 (90% margin)
Maine: $296,600

Median gross rent

$1,055

±$43 (90% margin)
Maine: $1,139

Where is Bangor and what county is it in?

Bangor is a city in Penobscot County, Maine. It covers 34.3 square miles of land, 927 residents per square mile in 2020.

Bangor is in the Bangor, ME metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Bangor (marked with a dot) in Penobscot County, Maine. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Bangor, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 32,518 people lived in Bangor on July 1, 2025, up 2.4% since 2020, slower than Maine (+3.8%). The 2020 Census counted 31,753 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 31,938 (±28).

  • July 2020→2021 −237 (31,489)
  • 2021→2022 +123 (31,612)
  • 2022→2023 +883 (32,495)
  • 2023→2024 +28 (32,523)
  • 2024→2025 −5 (32,518)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure BangorPenobscot CountyMaine Change since 2015-2019
Total population 31,938 ±28 154,710 1,387,817 −157
Households 14,581 ±504 65,221 597,159 +776
Average household size 2.02 ±0.07 2.26 2.26 −0.13
Housing units 16,042 ±505 75,683 751,876 no clear change

Bangor's population since 2000

From 31,473 in 2000 to 32,518 in 2025: up 3.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bangor as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 31,473
  • 2005 (estimate) 32,292
  • 2010 Census 33,039
  • 2015 (estimate) 32,144
  • 2020 Census 31,753
  • 2025 (estimate) 32,518

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Bangor?

The median resident of Bangor is 41.0 years old; 16.7% are under 18 and 19.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.7%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.6%. 6.0% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure BangorPenobscot CountyMaine Change since 2015-2019
Median age 41.0 ±1.3 42.5 44.8 +3.1
Under 18 years 16.7% ±1.4 pts 17.6% 18.1% –
65 years and over 19.9% ±1.5 pts 20.1% 22.4% –
Male 48.2% ±1.8 pts 49.7% 49.3% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.1% ±0.9 pts 2.1% 2.2% +1.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic 87.7% ±1.7 pts 91.1% 89.9% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 2.8% ±0.7 pts 1.1% 1.8% +1.0 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic 1.7% ±0.7 pts 1.1% 1.1% no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.5% ±0.3 pts 0.7% 0.3% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.1 pts 0.1% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 3.6% ±0.9 pts 3.4% 4.2% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.6% ±0.6 pts 0.5% 0.4% –
Born outside the United States 6.0% ±1.3 pts 3.4% 4.1% no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 7.1% ±1.7 pts 4.9% 6.0% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 7.8% ±1.6 pts 7.7% 8.4% –
With a disability 20.7% ±2.0 pts 18.2% 15.8% –
No health insurance coverage 5.9% ±1.4 pts 6.3% 6.2% −2.6 pts
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 96.0% ±1.0 pts 94.8% 94.8% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 35.1% ±3.0 pts 30.1% 36.2% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 14.9% ±1.6 pts 11.9% 13.7% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 82.1% ±2.9 pts 87.6% 89.4% –
Moved from another state in the past year 3.6% ±1.4 pts 2.7% 2.7% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Bangor earn?

Half of Bangor's 14,581 households earn less than $59,942 a year (±$7,028), against $66,356 in Penobscot County and $74,733 in Maine. In 2015-2019 it was $57,381 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure BangorPenobscot CountyMaine Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $59,942 ±$7,028 $66,356 $74,733 no clear change
Mean household income $81,589 ±$4,972 $88,290 $100,102 –
Per capita income $38,557 ±$2,433 $37,915 $43,742 no clear change
People below the poverty line 17.9% ±2.4 pts 14.1% 10.7% no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line 25.5% ±6.1 pts 15.6% 13.1% no clear change
Households receiving SNAP 21.9% ±3.3 pts 15.6% 12.0% –
Households with a computer 95.2% ±1.6 pts 94.7% 94.9% –
Households with a broadband subscription 89.2% ±2.3 pts 88.8% 90.3% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Bangor?

Owners occupy 47.2% of Bangor's occupied homes and renters 52.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $219,600 by its owner (±$10,305). The median renter pays $1,055 a month including utilities, and 42.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure BangorPenobscot CountyMaine Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $219,600 ±$10,305 $214,100 $296,600 +$26,381
Median gross rent $1,055 ±$43 $1,041 $1,139 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 42.1% ±5.3 pts 40.3% 37.9% no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,620 ±$59 $1,562 $1,729 –
Owner-occupied homes 47.2% ±3.2 pts 70.5% 74.3% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 52.8% ±3.2 pts 29.5% 25.7% –
Housing units 16,042 ±505 75,683 751,876 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.6% ±0.7 pts 0.5% 0.7% –
Rental vacancy rate 5.7% ±2.6 pts 5.8% 4.2% –
Single-family detached homes 39.4% ±2.9 pts 64.2% 70.0% –
Mobile homes 6.7% ±1.7 pts 11.1% 8.2% –
Built 2020 or later 0.3% ±0.4 pts 1.0% 1.4% –
Built 2010 to 2019 7.0% ±1.9 pts 8.1% 7.1% –
Built 1939 or earlier 41.1% ±3.4 pts 21.9% 22.9% –
Households with no vehicle 14.8% ±2.8 pts 8.1% 6.8% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Bangor building?

Builders took permits for 83 new housing units in Bangor in 2025 (33 in single-family houses), 2.6 per 1,000 residents against 4.9 across Maine.

  • 2019 28 units
  • 2020 81 units
  • 2021 42 units
  • 2022 46 units
  • 2023 39 units
  • 2024 67 units
  • 2025 83 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Bangor work and get to work?

72.6% of Bangor's workers drive alone and 10.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure BangorPenobscot CountyMaine Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 60.8% ±2.6 pts 59.6% 61.7% –
Unemployment rate 4.1% ±1.7 pts 3.6% 3.8% no clear change
Drove alone to work 72.6% ±3.2 pts 75.6% 70.8% –
Carpooled 6.1% ±1.9 pts 7.3% 7.9% –
Public transportation 1.6% ±0.8 pts 0.4% 0.5% –
Walked 6.6% ±2.0 pts 3.7% 3.4% –
Worked from home 10.1% ±2.5 pts 11.3% 15.9% +5.3 pts
Mean travel time to work 16.6 min ±1.4 22.7 min 24.6 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Bangor?

8 census tracts lie mostly in Bangor (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $24,353 (Tract 2) to $82,191 (Tract 311).

Census tracts in Bangor, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Bangor
Tract 9Penobscot County7,029 $58,611 $181,600100%
Tract 311Penobscot County6,818 $82,191 $224,400100%
Tract 3Penobscot County4,399 $65,545 $241,700100%
Tract 5Penobscot County3,573 $67,794 $199,200100%
Tract 2Penobscot County3,399 $24,353 $160,500100%
Tract 7Penobscot County2,896 $74,800 $232,300100%
Tract 4Penobscot County1,995 $56,885 $246,200100%
Tract 6Penobscot County1,829 $45,978 $218,300100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bangor) · Census block assignment files

How does Bangor compare with other places in Maine?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bangor is the 1,267th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 3rd-most populous of 23 in Maine.

Bangor ranks 255th of 349 places in Maine with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Bangor's rank in Maine (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate3rd23
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)167th273
Residents per square mile27th353
Median household income255th349
Per capita income192nd353
Median home value229th352
Median gross rent151st301
Poverty rate49th277
Bachelor's degree or higher129th352
Median age281st353
Owner-occupied share345th353
Work from home217th275
Travel time to work314th352

Bangor's figures with every place in Maine (CSV)

Every place in Maine, sortable · Compare Bangor with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Bangor?

4 of the 57 figures for Bangor on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bangor are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Bangor.