Washington County, ME

This county of 31,446 residents needs 650 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
31,446 (2026)
Households
14,134
Median household income
$61,454 (2026)
Typical home value
$202,928
Owner-occupied
52%
Five-year housing need
650 units

Comparison to other Maine counties

Washington County: $61,454 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$61K >$107K
Washington County: 0.65 jobs to household ratio
<0.62 >1.46
Washington County: Permits since 2021 represent 1.8% of housing
<1.1% >6.5%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $202,928, homes in Washington County, ME cost well below the Maine average of $294,704. Washington County, ME's median household income of $61,454 puts the typical home within reach for most households.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Washington County, ME has a population of roughly 31,331 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Washington County, ME has roughly 14,134 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Washington County, ME is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 81% of units. Washington County, ME is roughly split between owners and renters, at 52% owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Washington County, ME needs 650 new units over the next 5 years.

164
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
1.2%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 14,134 in 2026 to 14,298 in 2031.
486
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
172
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.6 per 1,000 units.
84
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.8%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
230
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 2.61%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
650
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
130
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
3.0%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.6%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?