Town · Maine
Machias, Maine
Machias, town, in Washington County, Maine. Machias had 2,078 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,060 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,020 (±413). GEOID 2302941960.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,078
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,060 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,020 ±413
Median household income
$34,375
±$15,670 (90% margin)
Maine: $74,733
Median home value
$141,300
±$17,053 (90% margin)
Maine: $296,600
Median gross rent
$692
±$276 (90% margin)
Maine: $1,139
Where is Machias and what county is it in?
Machias is a town in Washington County, Maine. It covers 13.9 square miles of land, 148 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Machias: Machias (CDP, 1,457 in 2020).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Machias, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,078 people lived in Machias on July 1, 2025, up 0.8% since 2020, slower than Maine (+3.8%). The 2020 Census counted 2,060 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,020 (±413).
| Measure | Machias | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,020±413 | 31,331 | no clear change |
| Households | 791±101 | 14,187 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.09±0.38 | 2.14 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 985±125 | 21,726 | no clear change |
Machias's population since 2000
From 2,353 in 2000 to 2,078 in 2025: down 11.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Machias 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 Machias?
The median resident of Machias is 40.8 years old; 15.9% are under 18 and 20.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.8%.
| Measure | Machias | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8±9.6 | 48.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 15.9%±6.5 pts | 18.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.2%±6.3 pts | 26.3% | – |
| Male | 46.9%±5.1 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.8%±1.4 pts | 2.5% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.8%±3.2 pts | 87.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.9 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.8%±2.9 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.6%±1.6 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.8%±5.3 pts | 5.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.7%±3.3 pts | 11.7% | – |
| With a disability | 19.3%±5.6 pts | 22.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.5%±3.0 pts | 9.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 81.5%±7.3 pts | 91.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.0%±4.6 pts | 24.7% | −7.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.5%±1.7 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.2%±5.2 pts | 89.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.9%±4.0 pts | 3.1% | – |
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 Machias earn?
Half of Machias's 791 households earn less than $34,375 a year (±$15,670), against $56,024 in Washington County and $74,733 in Maine. In 2015-2019 it was $32,397 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Machias | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $34,375±$15,670 | $56,024 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $51,257±$9,257 | $74,471 | – |
| Per capita income | $21,340±$2,157 | $33,745 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 25.6%±10.5 pts | 17.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 19.6%±18.9 pts | 18.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 26.0%±9.5 pts | 18.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 87.5%±7.2 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 77.7%±8.6 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 Machias?
Owners occupy 49.7% of Machias's occupied homes and renters 50.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $141,300 by its owner (±$17,053). The median renter pays $692 a month including utilities, and 28.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Machias | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $141,300±$17,053 | $161,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $692±$276 | $783 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 28.9%±17.1 pts | 38.4% | −22.2 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,239±$261 | $1,275 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 49.7%±9.3 pts | 79.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 50.3%±9.3 pts | 20.3% | – |
| Housing units | 985±125 | 21,726 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±6.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.3%±8.8 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 54.1%±9.5 pts | 81.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.7%±6.4 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±2.8 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.0%±3.7 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 30.9%±8.3 pts | 27.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.0%±6.1 pts | 6.1% | – |
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 Machias building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Machias in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 1.0 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 Machias work and get to work?
71.8% of Machias's workers drive alone and 12.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 17.4%.
| Measure | Machias | Washington County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 48.4%±8.9 pts | 52.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 17.4%±10.6 pts | 6.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.8%±7.2 pts | 75.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.5%±3.8 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±4.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 9.0%±6.0 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 12.7%±7.9 pts | 9.7% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.4 min±4.6 | 21.6 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 Machias?
1 census tract lies mostly in Machias (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9562Washington County | 2,689 | $46,493 |
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 Machias) · Census block assignment files
How does Machias compare with other places in Maine?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Machias is the 4,707th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 143rd-most populous of 454 in Maine.
Machias ranks 347th 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 | 143rd | 454 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 214th | 273 |
| Residents per square mile | 147th | 353 |
| Median household income | 347th | 349 |
| Per capita income | 352nd | 353 |
| Median home value | 322nd | 352 |
| Median gross rent | 273rd | 301 |
| Poverty rate | 8th | 277 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 323rd | 352 |
| Median age | 289th | 353 |
| Owner-occupied share | 342nd | 353 |
| Work from home | 169th | 275 |
| Travel time to work | 316th | 352 |
Machias's figures with every place in Maine (CSV)
Every place in Maine, sortable · Compare Machias 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 Machias?
17 of the 57 figures for Machias 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 Machias 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.