Town · Maine

Deer Isle, Maine

Deer Isle, town, in Hancock County, Maine. Deer Isle had 2,132 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,194 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,470 (±285). GEOID 2300917145.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,132

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,194 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,470 ±285

Median household income

$62,284

±$15,363 (90% margin)
Maine: $74,733

Median home value

$308,300

±$41,623 (90% margin)
Maine: $296,600

Median gross rent

$1,909

±$927 (90% margin)
Maine: $1,139

Where is Deer Isle and what county is it in?

Deer Isle is a town in Hancock County, Maine. It covers 29.7 square miles of land, 74 residents per square mile in 2020.

Deer Isle (marked with a dot) in Hancock 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 Deer Isle, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 2,132 people lived in Deer Isle on July 1, 2025, down 2.7% since 2020, while Maine grew 3.8%. The 2020 Census counted 2,194 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,470 (±285).

  • July 2020→2021 +14 (2,206)
  • 2021→2022 −57 (2,149)
  • 2022→2023 +3 (2,152)
  • 2023→2024 −11 (2,141)
  • 2024→2025 −9 (2,132)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureDeer IsleHancock CountyMaineChange since 2015-2019
Total population2,470±28556,4601,387,817+503
Households1,052±14225,572597,159+199
Average household size2.25±0.202.142.26no clear change
Housing units1,924±17040,765751,876no clear change

Deer Isle's population since 2000

From 1,876 in 2000 to 2,132 in 2025: up 13.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Deer Isle 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 1,876
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,947
  • 2010 Census 1,975
  • 2015 (estimate) 1,953
  • 2020 Census 2,194
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,132

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 Deer Isle?

The median resident of Deer Isle is 52.6 years old; 14.7% are under 18 and 24.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 2.7%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureDeer IsleHancock CountyMaineChange since 2015-2019
Median age52.6±5.649.044.8no clear change
Under 18 years14.7%±2.8 pts16.2%18.1%–
65 years and over24.8%±4.1 pts26.6%22.4%–
Male47.5%±4.0 pts48.9%49.3%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2.7%±1.8 pts1.9%2.2%–
White alone, not Hispanic94.9%±2.4 pts92.6%89.9%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.1 pts1.0%1.8%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.1 pts1.0%1.1%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic1.1%±0.7 pts0.4%0.3%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.1 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic0.9%±1.3 pts2.8%4.2%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.5%±0.7 pts0.4%0.4%–
Born outside the United States2.8%±2.2 pts3.3%4.1%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)5.0%±3.0 pts3.3%6.0%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)4.7%±2.1 pts8.0%8.4%–
With a disability22.0%±6.0 pts15.1%15.8%–
No health insurance coverage17.4%±6.1 pts9.6%6.2%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)92.0%±4.3 pts95.6%94.8%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)35.9%±8.4 pts40.1%36.2%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)20.4%±7.2 pts15.2%13.7%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier97.4%±1.8 pts89.2%89.4%–
Moved from another state in the past year1.3%±1.0 pts2.7%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 Deer Isle earn?

Half of Deer Isle's 1,052 households earn less than $62,284 a year (±$15,363), against $72,744 in Hancock County and $74,733 in Maine. In 2015-2019 it was $67,159 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 19.1% 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
MeasureDeer IsleHancock CountyMaineChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$62,284±$15,363$72,744$74,733no clear change
Mean household income$92,605±$16,273$97,122$100,102–
Per capita income$40,307±$6,437$44,241$43,742no clear change
People below the poverty line19.1%±8.5 pts9.9%10.7%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line27.5%±22.4 pts11.4%13.1%–
Households receiving SNAP4.6%±3.5 pts8.4%12.0%–
Households with a computer92.3%±4.7 pts93.9%94.9%–
Households with a broadband subscription88.9%±5.7 pts91.2%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 Deer Isle?

Owners occupy 85.8% of Deer Isle's occupied homes and renters 14.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $308,300 by its owner (±$41,623). The median renter pays $1,909 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureDeer IsleHancock CountyMaineChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$308,300±$41,623$310,400$296,600no clear change
Median gross rent$1,909±$927$1,061$1,139+$1,199
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent25.4%±18.9 pts39.3%37.9%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,500±$245$1,673$1,729–
Owner-occupied homes85.8%±6.1 pts78.5%74.3%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes14.2%±6.1 pts21.5%25.7%–
Housing units1,924±17040,765751,876no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate4.6%±5.0 pts1.3%0.7%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±16.8 pts6.7%4.2%–
Single-family detached homes91.5%±3.7 pts80.9%70.0%–
Mobile homes8.4%±3.6 pts7.4%8.2%–
Built 2020 or later2.5%±2.4 pts1.2%1.4%–
Built 2010 to 20195.7%±2.8 pts8.7%7.1%–
Built 1939 or earlier30.9%±6.3 pts22.1%22.9%–
Households with no vehicle7.3%±5.4 pts6.2%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 Deer Isle building?

Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Deer Isle in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.9 across Maine.

  • 2019 8 units
  • 2020 5 units
  • 2021 7 units
  • 2022 7 units
  • 2023 1 units
  • 2024 0 units
  • 2025 0 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 Deer Isle work and get to work?

61.0% of Deer Isle's workers drive alone and 22.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.4 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureDeer IsleHancock CountyMaineChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)53.9%±7.5 pts60.0%61.7%–
Unemployment rate2.9%±2.9 pts4.6%3.8%–
Drove alone to work61.0%±10.5 pts68.2%70.8%–
Carpooled11.4%±5.5 pts11.9%7.9%–
Public transportation0.0%±2.5 pts0.5%0.5%–
Walked3.1%±2.0 pts4.3%3.4%–
Worked from home22.0%±9.1 pts13.7%15.9%+13.1 pts
Mean travel time to work20.4 min±4.125.4 min24.6 minno 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 Deer Isle?

1 census tract lies mostly in Deer Isle (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Deer Isle, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Deer Isle
Tract 9666Hancock County3,310 $61,613 $308,10073%

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 Deer Isle) · Census block assignment files

How does Deer Isle compare with other places in Maine?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Deer Isle is the 4,609th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 139th-most populous of 454 in Maine.

Deer Isle ranks 230th of 349 places in Maine with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Deer Isle's rank in Maine (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate139th454
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)270th273
Residents per square mile234th353
Median household income230th349
Per capita income163rd353
Median home value121st352
Median gross rent10th301
Poverty rate35th277
Bachelor's degree or higher122nd352
Median age75th353
Owner-occupied share118th353
Work from home47th275
Travel time to work270th352

Deer Isle's figures with every place in Maine (CSV)

Every place in Maine, sortable · Compare Deer Isle 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 Deer Isle?

17 of the 57 figures for Deer Isle 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 Deer Isle 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' school search.