City profile · Maine · Census ACS 2023

Caribou, ME

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Caribou - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

7,427
Residents
$54,271
Median income
$120,300
Median home
$1,224
Median rent (state)

Caribou - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Caribou places in the 26th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

26th
percentile, household income
17th
percentile, home value
39th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Caribou, ME

Maine's Caribou is a small town, with 7,427 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Caribou brings in $54,271 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.5%. Home values in Caribou run a median of $120,300, and the median resident age is 52.3 years. 28.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 52.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 6 residential building permits were authorized in Caribou (Construction Slowdown), down 87% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Maine tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,224 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Maine's average monthly utility costs around $273 (state average). Commute times here average 14.3 minutes, with 75.2% driving alone and 9.0% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 80.4 out of 100 (High).

Population

7,427 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Maine

Median Household Income

$54,271 /yr

Poverty 5.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Maine average

How does Caribou compare to other US cities?

Caribou measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 26% higher than other cities
Home value 17% pricier than other cities
Median rent 39% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Caribou against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Maine only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Maine-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Caribou near the bottom of Maine's cities

Among the 154 Maine cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Caribou ranks #139 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Caribou only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#85 of 145
41st percentile in Maine
Median Gross Rent
#139 of 154
0th percentile in Maine
Median Home Value
#123 of 151
19th percentile in Maine
Poverty Rate
#92 of 154
40th percentile in Maine
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#72 of 154
53rd percentile in Maine

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Maine only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

26thIncome percentile

26th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Caribou's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$120,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 83% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Caribou $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Caribou, ME Caribou, ME's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Caribou, ME-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Caribou, ME median $54,271/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Caribou, ME's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Caribou, ME. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
7,427
Median Income
$54,271
Median Home Value
$120,300
Median Age
52.3
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Labor force participation
52.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.6%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,300 residents7,350 residents7,400 residents7,450 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,405 residents 7,321 residents ▼ -1.1%
Caribou's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
6
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 45
2020 6
2021 7
2022 2
2023 6
2024 6

Permit volume decreased 87% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
14.3 minutes
Drive Alone
75.2%
Carpool
11.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.5%
Work from Home
9.0%
Other
1.0%

Based on 3,394 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Maine - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$273
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Maine state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Maine state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Caribou sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,224/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
80.4 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Maine

Old
7,439 people
Gorham
7,365 people
Rockland
6,991 people
Belfast
6,985 people
Topsham
6,962 people
Skowhegan
6,638 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Caribou's 7,427 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Belen, NM
7,427 people
Montevallo, AL
7,429 people
Escalon, CA
7,429 people
South Apopka, FL
7,425 people
Trumann, AR
7,432 people
Jerseyville, IL
7,432 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Caribou's $54,271 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Centertown, TN
$54,271 median income
Macdona, TX
$54,279 median income
Seven Mile, OH
$54,280 median income
Burden, KS
$54,261 median income
Shawnee, OK
$54,281 median income
Hartford, AL
$54,286 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Caribou, ME Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Caribou, ME - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.3% White 92.5% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 0.5% American Indian 1.1% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Caribou compares to nearby Maine cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Caribou (this city) 7,427 $54,271
Old 7,439 $49,329
Gorham 7,365 $125,058
Rockland 6,991 $55,276
Census ACS 5-year FIPS ME NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Caribou, ME?

What is the population of Caribou, ME? +

The population of Caribou, ME stands at 7,427 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Caribou, ME? +

The median household income in Caribou is $54,271 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Caribou? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Caribou; the closest available measure is the Maine state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Maine vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Caribou, ME? +

The median home value in Caribou is $120,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.