Maine Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

Maine's 1,377,400 residents make it the 42nd-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +89.3% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 45 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, Maine is:

91.3% White (alone)
1.7% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.6% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the Maine state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Maine is $71,773, with per-capita income at $42,035. 6.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.4%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in Maine: 44.8 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.2% male and 50.8% female. Maine skews older than the US median, often a sign of out-migration of younger residents or high retiree population.

Largest Cities in Maine

Portland city — population 68,505
Lewiston city — population 37,886
Bangor city — population 31,663
South Portland city — population 26,780
Auburn city — population 24,294

Largest Counties in Maine

Cumberland County — population 305,940
York County — population 214,731
Penobscot County — population 153,571
Kennebec County — population 125,614
Androscoggin County — population 112,323

How Maine Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 42nd of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete Maine state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Maine has a population of 1,377,400 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 42nd among the 50 states. Population density is 45 people per square mile.

Maine is gaining population, with a +89.3% change since 1910 (742,371 → 1,377,400). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

91.3% of Maine's population identifies as White, 1.7% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.6% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in Maine is $71,773 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $42,035. 6.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Maine is 44.8 years. The population is 49.2% male and 50.8% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Maine state page.

The largest cities in Maine by population: Portland city (68,505), Lewiston city (37,886), Bangor city (31,663), South Portland city (26,780), Auburn city (24,294).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Maine ranks 42nd. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Maine's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.