Maine, the northernmost state in the New England region, is known for its rocky coastline, maritime history and natural areas such as the granite and spruce islands of Acadia National Park. Lighthouses dot the coast, as do lobster shacks and sandy beaches like Ogunquit and Old Orchard. The coastal regions of the state, supported over the years by fishing, lobstering, and tourism, are the most heavily populated.
The top industries in Maine have shifted dramatically over the past several decades. Today, the Pine Tree State is still home to one of the nation’s largest ship manufacturers. It still produces more paper, farms more wild strawberries, and catches more lobster than most other states combined. Those industries, however, have all shrunk in recent years, with booms in areas such as technology and tourism shifting jobs in Maine.
The following information is a sample of the state census. For further analysis, visit the U.S. Census Quickfacts Website.
| Population |
Maine
|
Massachusetts
|
New Hampshire
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Population estimates, July 1, 2017, (V2017) | 1,335,907 | 6,859,819 | 1,342,795 |
| Population estimates, July 1, 2016, (V2016) | 1,331,479 | 6,811,779 | 1,334,795 |
| Population estimates base, April 1, 2010, (V2017) | 1,328,362 | 6,547,808 | 1,316,460 |
| Population estimates base, April 1, 2010, (V2016) | 1,328,364 | 6,547,813 | 1,316,461 |
| Population, percent change – April 1, 2010 (estimates base) to July 1, 2017, (V2017) | 0.6% | 4.8% | 2.0% |
| Population, percent change – April 1, 2010 (estimates base) to July 1, 2016, (V2016) | 0.2% | 4.0% | 1.4% |
| Population, Census, April 1, 2010 | 1,328,361 | 6,547,629 | 1,316,470 |
| Age and Sex | |||
| Persons under 5 years, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) | 4.9% | 5.3% | 4.8% |
| Persons under 5 years, percent, April 1, 2010 | 5.2% | 5.6% | 5.3% |
| Persons under 18 years, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) | 19.1% | 20.2% | 19.5% |
| Persons under 18 years, percent, April 1, 2010 | 20.7% | 21.7% | 21.8% |
| Persons 65 years and over, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) | 19.4% | 15.8% | 17.0% |
| Persons 65 years and over, percent, April 1, 2010 | 15.9% | 13.8% | 13.5% |
| Female persons, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) | 51.0% | 51.5% | 50.5% |
| Female persons, percent, April 1, 2010 | 51.1% | 51.6% | 50.7% |
| Race and Hispanic Origin | |||
| White alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a) | 94.8% | 81.8% | 93.8% |
| Black or African American alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a) | 1.5% | 8.6% | 1.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a) | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Asian alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a) | 1.2% | 6.7% | 2.7% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a) | Z | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Two or More Races, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) | 1.7% | 2.3% | 1.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(b) | 1.6% | 11.5% | 3.5% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016) | 93.5% | 73.0% | 90.8% |
| Population Characteristics | |||
| Veterans, 2012-2016 | 114,000 | 340,288 | 103,282 |
| Foreign born persons, percent, 2012-2016 | 3.6% | 15.7% | 5.8% |
| Housing | |||
| Housing units, July 1, 2016, (V2016) | 730,705 | 2,858,026 | 625,307 |
| Housing units, April 1, 2010 | 721,830 | 2,808,254 | 614,754 |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2012-2016 | 71.5% | 62.1% | 70.7% |
| Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2012-2016 | $176,000 | $341,000 | $239,700 |
| Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2012-2016 | $1,340 | $2,067 | $1,853 |
| Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2012-2016 | $477 | $730 | $755 |
| Median gross rent, 2012-2016 | $790 | $1,129 | $1,021 |
| Building permits, 2016 | 4,0101 | 16,288 | 3,796 |
| Families & Living Arrangements | |||
| Households, 2012-2016 | 551,109 | 2,558,889 | 521,373 |
| Persons per household, 2012-2016 | 2.35 | 2.54 | 2.47 |
| Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2012-2016 | 86.3% | 87.1% | 85.9% |
| Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2012-2016 | 6.5% | 22.7% | 7.9% |
| Education | |||
| High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2012-2016 | 91.9% | 90.1% | 92.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2012-2016 | 29.3% | 41.2% | 35.5% |
| Health | |||
| With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2012-2016 | 11.9% | 7.9% | 8.7% |
| Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent |
10.3% |
3.3% |
7.5% |
| Economy | |||
| In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2012-2016 | 63.0% | 67.4% | 68.0% |
| In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2012-2016 | 59.6% | 63.5% | 63.8% |
| Total accommodation and food services sales, 2012 ($1,000)(c) | 2,901,347 | 17,508,975 | 2,942,278 |
| Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2012 ($1,000)(c) | 10,297,043 | 63,583,090 | 9,616,460 |
| Total manufacturers shipments, 2012 ($1,000)(c) | 16,044,543 | 81,927,799 | 18,895,624 |
| Total merchant wholesaler sales, 2012 ($1,000)(c) | 12,961,262 | 123,904,370 | 18,029,179 |
| Total retail sales, 2012 ($1,000)(c) | 21,521,714 | 92,915,380 | 26,018,201 |
| Total retail sales per capita, 2012(c) | $16,192 | $13,980 | $19,700 |
| Transportation | |||
| Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2012-2016 | 23.7 | 29.0 | 26.9 |
| Income & Poverty | |||
| Median household income (in 2016 dollars), 2012-2016 | $50,826 | $70,954 | $68,485 |
| Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2016 dollars), 2012-2016 | $28,473 | $38,069 | $35,264 |
| Persons in poverty, percent |
12.5% |
10.4% |
7.3% |
| Businesses | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total employer establishments, 2015 | 40,8011 | 175,2251 | 37,6691 |
| Total employment, 2015 | 500,5491 | 3,167,3291 | 576,4241 |
| Total annual payroll, 2015 ($1,000) | 20,413,1591 | 198,026,6111 | 28,076,3201 |
| Total employment, percent change, 2014-2015 | 1.6%1 | 2.6%1 | 2.3%1 |
| Total nonemployer establishments, 2015 | 113,012 | 514,298 | 104,437 |
| All firms, 2012 | 139,570 | 607,664 | 131,638 |
| Men-owned firms, 2012 | 79,243 | 357,158 | 76,716 |
| Women-owned firms, 2012 | 42,067 | 199,210 | 38,525 |
| Minority-owned firms, 2012 | 4,339 | 89,967 | 6,111 |
| Nonminority-owned firms, 2012 | 131,322 | 499,959 | 121,297 |
| Veteran-owned firms, 2012 | 15,689 | 58,339 | 16,119 |
| Nonveteran-owned firms, 2012 | 115,839 | 525,667 | 108,817 |
| Geography | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Population per square mile, 2010 | 43.1 | 839.4 | 147.0 |
| Land area in square miles, 2010 | 30,842.92 | 7,800.06 | 8,952.65 |
| FIPS Code | 23 | 25 | 33 |