City · Maine
Rockland, Maine
Rockland, city, in Knox County, Maine. Rockland had 7,142 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,936 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 7,035 (±17). GEOID 2363590.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,142
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,936 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,035 ±17
Median household income
$56,533
±$6,121 (90% margin)
Maine: $74,733
Median home value
$245,800
±$37,934 (90% margin)
Maine: $296,600
Median gross rent
$1,092
±$105 (90% margin)
Maine: $1,139
Where is Rockland and what county is it in?
Rockland is a city in Knox County, Maine. It covers 12.8 square miles of land, 540 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Rockland, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 7,142 people lived in Rockland on July 1, 2025, up 2.8% since 2020, slower than Maine (+3.8%). The 2020 Census counted 6,936 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 7,035 (±17).
| Measure | Rockland | Knox County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,035 ±17 | 41,003 | −143 |
| Households | 3,565 ±253 | 18,484 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 1.92 ±0.13 | 2.12 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,222 ±232 | 24,564 | no clear change |
Rockland's population since 2000
From 7,609 in 2000 to 7,142 in 2025: down 6.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Rockland 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 Rockland?
The median resident of Rockland is 49.3 years old; 15.5% are under 18 and 25.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.6%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.8%.
| Measure | Rockland | Knox County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.3 ±6.0 | 49.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 15.5% ±3.0 pts | 16.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.4% ±3.3 pts | 27.9% | – |
| Male | 45.6% ±3.2 pts | 50.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.4% ±1.1 pts | 1.9% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.6% ±3.3 pts | 93.2% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.8% ±3.0 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.9% ±0.7 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.8% ±2.1 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.4% ±2.7 pts | 8.7% | – |
| With a disability | 18.7% ±4.4 pts | 13.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.0% ±1.8 pts | 5.5% | −3.4 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.8% ±4.0 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.6% ±6.0 pts | 39.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.5% ±3.5 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.0% ±5.0 pts | 90.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.9% ±2.1 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 Rockland earn?
Half of Rockland's 3,565 households earn less than $56,533 a year (±$6,121), against $74,096 in Knox County and $74,733 in Maine. In 2015-2019 it was $54,343 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Rockland | Knox County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,533 ±$6,121 | $74,096 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $74,050 ±$8,261 | $99,101 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,105 ±$4,006 | $44,763 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.4% ±3.5 pts | 8.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.2% ±0.6 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.9% ±4.2 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.4% ±4.9 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.2% ±5.4 pts | 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 Rockland?
Owners occupy 62.0% of Rockland's occupied homes and renters 38.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $245,800 by its owner (±$37,934). The median renter pays $1,092 a month including utilities, and 31.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Rockland | Knox County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $245,800 ±$37,934 | $324,900 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,092 ±$105 | $1,165 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.5% ±11.8 pts | 36.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,388 ±$103 | $1,691 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 62.0% ±6.0 pts | 78.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 38.0% ±6.0 pts | 21.3% | – |
| Housing units | 4,222 ±232 | 24,564 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.2% ±4.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.0% ±3.3 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 53.2% ±6.6 pts | 79.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% ±3.2 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.4% ±2.1 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 44.3% ±7.2 pts | 32.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.8% ±5.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
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 Rockland building?
Builders took permits for 73 new housing units in Rockland in 2025 (11 in single-family houses), 10.2 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 Rockland work and get to work?
62.1% of Rockland's workers drive alone and 22.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 12.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.6%.
| Measure | Rockland | Knox County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.5% ±5.7 pts | 58.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.6% ±3.7 pts | 3.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 62.1% ±7.3 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.1% ±4.4 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 6.5% ±3.1 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 22.1% ±6.8 pts | 16.6% | +17.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 12.4 min ±1.9 | 19.6 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 Rockland?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Rockland, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $42,427 (Tract 9706) to $59,836 (Tract 9707).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9707Knox County | 4,644 | $59,836 |
| Tract 9706Knox County | 2,391 | $42,427 |
| Tract 9900Knox County | 0 | not published |
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 Rockland) · Census block assignment files
How does Rockland compare with other places in Maine?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Rockland is the 4,021st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 18th-most populous of 23 in Maine.
Rockland ranks 281st 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 | 18th | 23 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 155th | 273 |
| Residents per square mile | 58th | 353 |
| Median household income | 281st | 349 |
| Per capita income | 222nd | 353 |
| Median home value | 189th | 352 |
| Median gross rent | 131st | 301 |
| Poverty rate | 149th | 277 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 124th | 352 |
| Median age | 128th | 353 |
| Owner-occupied share | 314th | 353 |
| Work from home | 44th | 275 |
| Travel time to work | 346th | 352 |
Rockland's figures with every place in Maine (CSV)
Every place in Maine, sortable · Compare Rockland 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 Rockland?
16 of the 57 figures for Rockland 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 Rockland 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' public schools in Rockland.