Town · Maine
Howland, Maine
Howland, town, in Penobscot County, Maine. Howland had 1,166 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,094 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,367 (±306). GEOID 2301934190.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,166
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,094 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,367 ±306
Median household income
$49,297
±$20,532 (90% margin)
Maine: $74,733
Median home value
$150,100
±$52,311 (90% margin)
Maine: $296,600
Median gross rent
$916
±$246 (90% margin)
Maine: $1,139
Where is Howland and what county is it in?
Howland is a town in Penobscot County, Maine. It covers 34.9 square miles of land, 31 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Howland: Howland (CDP, 947 in 2020).
Howland is in the Bangor, ME metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Howland, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,166 people lived in Howland on July 1, 2025, up 6.0% since 2020, faster than Maine (+3.8%). The 2020 Census counted 1,094 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,367 (±306).
| Measure | Howland | Penobscot County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,367±306 | 154,710 | no clear change |
| Households | 479±78 | 65,221 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.75±0.38 | 2.26 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 520±76 | 75,683 | no clear change |
Howland's population since 2000
From 1,362 in 2000 to 1,166 in 2025: down 14.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Howland 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 Howland?
The median resident of Howland is 47.6 years old; 22.0% are under 18 and 22.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 95.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.5%.
| Measure | Howland | Penobscot County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.6±10.2 | 42.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.0%±6.1 pts | 17.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.8%±9.1 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Male | 47.3%±4.3 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.0%±2.0 pts | 2.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 95.2%±4.5 pts | 91.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.2%±1.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±1.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.5%±2.8 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.0 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.9%±2.0 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.3%±1.0 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.2%±5.7 pts | 7.7% | – |
| With a disability | 27.9%±9.1 pts | 18.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.1%±2.9 pts | 6.3% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.8%±4.5 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.0%±5.6 pts | 30.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.8%±2.4 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.1%±4.8 pts | 87.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.2%±3.5 pts | 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 Howland earn?
Half of Howland's 479 households earn less than $49,297 a year (±$20,532), against $66,356 in Penobscot County and $74,733 in Maine. In 2015-2019 it was $46,536 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Howland | Penobscot County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,297±$20,532 | $66,356 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $61,583±$7,581 | $88,290 | – |
| Per capita income | $22,983±$3,191 | $37,915 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 25.2%±10.1 pts | 14.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 32.9%±20.8 pts | 15.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.9%±7.9 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.2%±3.8 pts | 94.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.1%±6.4 pts | 88.8% | – |
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 Howland?
Owners occupy 77.9% of Howland's occupied homes and renters 22.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $150,100 by its owner (±$52,311). The median renter pays $916 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Howland | Penobscot County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $150,100±$52,311 | $214,100 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $916±$246 | $1,041 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 16.0%±15.7 pts | 40.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,543±$176 | $1,562 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.9%±9.4 pts | 70.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 22.1%±9.4 pts | 29.5% | – |
| Housing units | 520±76 | 75,683 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±7.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±22.6 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.8%±9.9 pts | 64.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 10.4%±6.3 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±5.1 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.3%±2.4 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 25.8%±10.8 pts | 21.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.5%±4.1 pts | 8.1% | – |
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 Howland building?
Builders took permits for 7 new housing units in Howland in 2025 (7 in single-family houses), 6.0 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 Howland work and get to work?
83.8% of Howland's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 31.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 10.0%.
| Measure | Howland | Penobscot County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 39.9%±9.2 pts | 59.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 10.0%±5.9 pts | 3.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 83.8%±9.6 pts | 75.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.3%±9.5 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8%±1.0 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.0%±7.3 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 0.0%±7.3 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.0 min±6.7 | 22.7 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 Howland?
1 census tract lies mostly in Howland (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 285Penobscot County | 1,455 | $49,926 |
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 Howland) · Census block assignment files
How does Howland compare with other places in Maine?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Howland is the 7,019th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 234th-most populous of 454 in Maine.
Howland ranks 324th 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 | 234th | 454 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 50th | 273 |
| Residents per square mile | 333rd | 353 |
| Median household income | 324th | 349 |
| Per capita income | 351st | 353 |
| Median home value | 314th | 352 |
| Median gross rent | 204th | 301 |
| Poverty rate | 10th | 277 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 346th | 352 |
| Median age | 152nd | 353 |
| Owner-occupied share | 225th | 353 |
| Travel time to work | 71st | 352 |
Howland's figures with every place in Maine (CSV)
Every place in Maine, sortable · Compare Howland 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 Howland?
19 of the 57 figures for Howland 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 Howland 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.