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Living in
Bangor.
About
Life in Bangor
Bangor functions as the regional center for northeastern Maine, which means job opportunities lean heavily toward healthcare, education, retail, and finance rather than a diversified economy—good if you work in those fields, limiting if you don't. The cost of living is reasonable compared to many Northeast cities, with median home values around $219,600 and median household income near $60,000, though rental rates average just over $1,000 per month. The unemployment rate sits at a healthy 3.5%, and your commute to most places in town averages 17 minutes, so daily life feels manageable.
Bangor at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.9%
Foreign-Born
6.0%
Broadband Internet
89.2%
of households
Population Growth
+2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.0% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Bangor: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Bangor, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (26.9%), and 1.8% of residents speak Other at home.
Under 18
16.7%
of residents
65 and Older
19.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
21.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.5%
of households
Married Couples
31.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.02
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 7% below ME average
Rent, home values, and income in Bangor
In Bangor, rent runs 7% below the ME average, and home values are 26% below the ME average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,076
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
47.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $283,105 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for ME
Unemployment in Bangor
Unemployment in Bangor is close to the ME average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Bangor Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.6 min avg
How Bangor residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Bangor, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 88% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Bangor International Airport (BGR)
Regional airport · few flights437k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 26% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Bangor runs 26% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
242.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,833.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Bangor Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 41 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
78.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Penobscot County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Penobscot County, which includes Bangor, the most common type is winter weather, with 41 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 42 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 42 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2022 | 20 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2021 | 24 | Heat | None reported |
| 2020 | 23 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 23 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2018 | 18 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Penobscot County, county-wide
Air Quality33 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Penobscot County, which includes Bangor, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
33
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
50
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Penobscot County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 12°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Bangor has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 12°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
53°/32°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
31°/12°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.7"
Annual Snowfall
74.6"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
161
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
134
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 9°F | 3.17" |
| Feb | 31°F | 11°F | 2.38" |
| Mar | 40°F | 21°F | 3.22" |
| Apr | 53°F | 32°F | 3.61" |
| May | 66°F | 43°F | 3.34" |
| Jun | 75°F | 53°F | 3.87" |
| Jul | 80°F | 59°F | 3.16" |
| Aug | 79°F | 57°F | 3.06" |
| Sep | 71°F | 49°F | 3.76" |
| Oct | 58°F | 38°F | 4.58" |
| Nov | 46°F | 29°F | 3.84" |
| Dec | 35°F | 17°F | 3.72" |
Healthcare4 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Bangor
Bangor has 4 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
4
within city limits
Uninsured
5.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
St Joseph Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric
Northern Light Acadia Hospital
Psychiatric
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Bangor
Bangor's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 35.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Bangor
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,618 students · in-state tuition $24,126 · 59% graduate · median earnings $57,136 (10 yrs after entry)
Eastern Maine Community College
Public · 2-year · 1,840 students · in-state tuition $4,156 · 33% graduate · median earnings $46,579 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 484 students · 44% graduate · median earnings $43,193 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 8,496 students · in-state tuition $13,760 · 56% graduate · median earnings $59,140 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Acadia National Park, 40 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Bangor
Bangor has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Acadia National Park (40 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Acadia National Park
National Park
40 mi awayFrances Perkins National Monument
National Monument
69 mi awayKatahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
National Monument
78 mi awaySaint Croix Island International Historic Site
International Historic Site
84 mi awayRoosevelt Campobello International Park
International Park
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Bangor
Bangor Public Library
145 Harlow Street, Bangor
Cities Near Bangor
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Bangor?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Bangor FAQ
Is Bangor, Maine affordable?⌄
Bangor's median rent is $1,055/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,942/year. Median home value is $219,600.
Is Bangor, Maine safe?⌄
Bangor's violent crime rate was 242 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3834 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Bangor, Maine?⌄
Bangor has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Bangor, Maine?⌄
The cost of living in Bangor is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,055/month and median household income is $59,942/year. The median home value is $219,600. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Bangor, Maine?⌄
The average commute in Bangor is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from