City profile · Maine · Census ACS 2023

Old, ME

Old's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

7,439
Residents
$49,329
Median income
$183,200
Median home
$1,448
Median rent (state)
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See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Old.

Place dossier plate

Sheet ME-OLD-ME · Old, ME 7,439 pop · income 18th pct · 46 tracts

POP-TOWN · INC-MID · COL-PAR · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-WIDE

  • POP-TOWN 7,439
  • INC-MID $49,329
  • COL-PAR 97.1
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 18th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Potomac Park
  • HOME-LOW $183,200
  • BOOK-WIDE 46 tracts

Nearest income peer: Potomac Park, MD (+ $1 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Old

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Old on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Old on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 7,439.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $49,329. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Old - the verdict

Nationally, Old sits in the 18th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

18th
percentile, household income
37th
percentile, home value
69th
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: Old, ME

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 7,439 residents in Old, a small town within Maine. Households in Old report a median income of $49,329 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 10.0%. Home values in Old run a median of $183,200, and the median resident age is 37.5 years. About 38.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 62.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 49 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 4800% from five years earlier.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,448 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $273 across Maine, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 56.7 out of 100 (Moderate).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Old's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from within-city variation to comparison shortlist to work and mobility to population change to housing and income; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Old, city-specific coverage includes within-city Census tract profiles, annual population history, local building permits, commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for matched public-school count, FBI reported-crime rates; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

1. Within-city variation

What can 46 Census tracts reveal inside Old?

That layer breaks the citywide income, rent, and home-value medians into smaller Census geographies, which can reveal differences that one municipal median necessarily hides. A tract is a statistical area, not a locally defined neighborhood or a promise about conditions on a particular block. Start with the city profile for the broad comparison, then use the tract layer to test whether the same housing and income pattern is consistent across the city. Large within-city spreads are a reason to avoid treating any citywide median as a universal resident experience.

PlainCities matches 46 Census tracts to this city.

Explore Old's tract profiles →

Question 2

Which cities make useful reference points for Old?

Within Maine, the closest population matches are Caribou (7,427 residents, $54,271 income); Gorham (7,365 residents, $125,058 income); Rockland (6,991 residents, $55,276 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Welcome, SC (7,439 residents); Alamo Heights, TX (7,443 residents); Prairie Grove, AR (7,445 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

3. Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in Old?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. Remote work has a visible role in the local pattern. That can reduce commute exposure for some workers, but it says nothing about job availability or broadband quality; read it alongside income and housing rather than as a stand-alone lifestyle score.

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 67.8%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Compare commute patterns →

4. Population change

Is Old growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +162 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +2.2% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 49 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

See the national growth ranking →

Other supported questions

Why these stay compact

These joined records add useful context, but they do not need another full-size panel. Each remains a separate measure with its own geography and source boundary.

Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Old?

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 3.7 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 10.0%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

Household income
$49,329
Home value
$183,200
Value / income
3.7×

City-level Census ACS 2023 medians. The ratio divides two separate medians and is descriptive only.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Population

7,439 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$49,329 /yr

Low income · poverty 10.0% (Above-median poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, Maine average

City profile score · Old, ME

43/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Bachelor's+ share B
38.3%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Cost of living C-
97.1 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Poverty rate D
10.0%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Household income F
$49,329

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Old profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Bachelor's+ share, Cost of living, Poverty rate, Household income. Bachelor's+ shareCost of livingPoverty rateHousehold income 43 D
Old profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Bachelor's+ share: 72/100 (B) · 38.3%
  • Cost of living: 53/100 (C-) · 97.1 index
  • Poverty rate: 40/100 (D) · 10.0%
  • Household income: 19/100 (F) · $49,329

How does Old compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 18% higher than other cities
Home value 37% pricier than other cities
Median rent 69% 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 Old 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 Old near the bottom of Maine's cities

Among the 154 Maine cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Old ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Old only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#101 of 145
30th percentile in Maine
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 154
0th percentile in Maine
Median Home Value
#88 of 151
42nd percentile in Maine
Poverty Rate
#56 of 154
64th percentile in Maine
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#50 of 154
68th percentile in Maine
How in-state ranks are ordered

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.

18thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

18th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Old's home value compares nationally

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

$183,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 63% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Old $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

Old's home-value-to-income ratio: 3.7×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
moderate
3.0–5.0×
National rank
#9,764 of 15,516
More affordable than 37% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#7,757 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 3.7×, Old sits in the moderate band: national rank #9,764 of 15,516 and #7,757 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Income and home value move in the same broad scale; check same-state peers before treating the multiple as an advantage or a warning.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$49,329 Old, ME median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Old, ME Old, ME's median household income ($49,329) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Old, ME-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Old, ME median $49,329/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%
Old, ME median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Old, ME.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 38.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.2%

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

Population
7,439
Median Income
$49,329
Median Home Value
$183,200
Median Age
37.5
Poverty Rate
10.0%
Labor force participation
62.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
38.3%

Population Change

PEP vintage

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
7,400 residents7,450 residents7,500 residents7,550 residents7,600 residents7,650 residents 202020212022202320242025 7,427 residents 7,589 residents ▲ +2.2%
Old's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 7,427 residents
2021 7,447 residents
2022 7,460 residents
2023 7,469 residents
2024 7,517 residents
2025 7,589 residents

Housing Supply

BPS source

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
49
housing units authorized
Single-Family
11
detached homes
Multifamily
38
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 1
2022 0
2023 37
2024 49

Permit volume increased 4800% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
67.8%
Carpool
8.7%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
20.6%
Other
1.6%

Based on 3,925 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Maine statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $273

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Maine at $273 (electricity about $130 , water and sewer about $48 ).

These are Maine statewide averages, not a meter reading for Old. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Maine's BEA cost-of-living index is 97.1 (Near Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Old is $1,448/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Maine statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 56.7 / 100 (Moderate).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Maine statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Old sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Old compares to similar-size Maine cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Old (this city) 7,439 $49,329
Caribou 7,427 $54,271
Gorham 7,365 $125,058
Rockland 6,991 $55,276
Census BPS 2024
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

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