Town · Maine
Houlton, Maine
Houlton, town, in Aroostook County, Maine. Houlton had 6,056 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,055 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,056 (±24). GEOID 2300333980.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,056
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,055 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,056 ±24
Median household income
$61,058
±$14,326 (90% margin)
Maine: $74,733
Median home value
$137,000
±$31,005 (90% margin)
Maine: $296,600
Median gross rent
$785
±$66 (90% margin)
Maine: $1,139
Where is Houlton and what county is it in?
Houlton is a town in Aroostook County, Maine. It covers 36.7 square miles of land, 165 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Houlton: Houlton (CDP, 4,743 in 2020).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Houlton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,056 people lived in Houlton on July 1, 2025, down 0.2% since 2020, while Maine grew 3.8%. The 2020 Census counted 6,055 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,056 (±24).
| Measure | Houlton | Aroostook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,056±24 | 67,058 | +227 |
| Households | 2,596±156 | 29,932 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.19±0.13 | 2.18 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,854±185 | 38,450 | no clear change |
Houlton's population since 2000
From 6,476 in 2000 to 6,056 in 2025: down 6.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Houlton 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.
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 Houlton?
The median resident of Houlton is 45.4 years old; 18.0% are under 18 and 24.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.5%, then non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 3.6%. 1.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Houlton | Aroostook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4±2.8 | 48.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.0%±2.6 pts | 18.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.4%±3.5 pts | 25.7% | – |
| Male | 48.8%±2.7 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.2%±1.3 pts | 1.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.5%±2.6 pts | 92.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 3.6%±1.4 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.1%±1.3 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.9%±1.1 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.8%±1.6 pts | 14.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.3%±2.6 pts | 10.0% | – |
| With a disability | 20.3%±4.6 pts | 20.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.6%±2.2 pts | 8.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.0%±3.9 pts | 91.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.6%±4.8 pts | 23.4% | +7.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.9%±3.0 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.2%±3.1 pts | 90.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2%±1.1 pts | 1.8% | – |
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 Houlton earn?
Half of Houlton's 2,596 households earn less than $61,058 a year (±$14,326), against $56,700 in Aroostook County and $74,733 in Maine. In 2015-2019 the median was $43,704 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $17,354 after inflation. 18.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Houlton | Aroostook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $61,058±$14,326 | $56,700 | +$17,354 |
| Mean household income | $81,515±$12,591 | $77,175 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,556±$4,765 | $34,879 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 18.1%±7.2 pts | 14.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 29.9%±23.2 pts | 16.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 26.8%±6.3 pts | 20.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.9%±2.7 pts | 91.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.0%±3.0 pts | 84.3% | – |
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 Houlton?
Owners occupy 63.8% of Houlton's occupied homes and renters 36.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $137,000 by its owner (±$31,005). The median renter pays $785 a month including utilities, and 47.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Houlton | Aroostook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $137,000±$31,005 | $149,700 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $785±$66 | $784 | +$140 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.5%±10.9 pts | 35.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,263±$253 | $1,196 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.8%±6.2 pts | 74.5% | +11.4 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 36.2%±6.2 pts | 25.5% | – |
| Housing units | 2,854±185 | 38,450 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.6 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.5%±5.1 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.0%±5.8 pts | 73.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.8%±1.8 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2%±1.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.9%±1.5 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 29.7%±6.6 pts | 19.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.1%±2.5 pts | 8.6% | – |
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 Houlton building?
Builders took permits for 4 new housing units in Houlton in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 0.7 per 1,000 residents against 4.9 across Maine.
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 Houlton work and get to work?
76.0% of Houlton's workers drive alone and 6.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 10.4 minutes.
| Measure | Houlton | Aroostook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.8%±4.9 pts | 54.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 11.5%±9.0 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.0%±5.7 pts | 77.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 16.6%±5.2 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 1.1%±1.1 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.0%±3.2 pts | 8.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 10.4 min±1.4 | 18.3 min | −4.8 min |
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 Houlton?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Houlton (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9524Aroostook County | 3,917 | $39,920 |
| Tract 9525Aroostook County | 2,139 | $82,171 |
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 Houlton) · Census block assignment files
How does Houlton compare with other places in Maine?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Houlton is the 1,973rd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 35th-most populous of 454 in Maine.
Houlton ranks 241st of 349 places in Maine with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 35th | 454 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 249th | 273 |
| Residents per square mile | 139th | 353 |
| Median household income | 241st | 349 |
| Per capita income | 246th | 353 |
| Median home value | 328th | 352 |
| Median gross rent | 259th | 301 |
| Poverty rate | 47th | 277 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 234th | 352 |
| Median age | 196th | 353 |
| Owner-occupied share | 309th | 353 |
| Work from home | 268th | 275 |
| Travel time to work | 351st | 352 |
Houlton's figures with every place in Maine (CSV)
Every place in Maine, sortable · Compare Houlton 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 Houlton?
12 of the 57 figures for Houlton 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 Houlton 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.