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PantryPath Research · Child Poverty Atlas

Child Poverty in
Maine

Maine's child poverty rate is 12.6% across 16 counties, meaning 31K children under 18 live in households below the federal poverty line. Use the interactive map below to see how poverty varies within the state.

12.6%

Child poverty rate (0–17)

31K

Children in poverty

10.5%

All-ages poverty

$73,463

Median income

Maine by county

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Toggle between five SAIPE metrics to see how poverty varies within Maine. Hover a county for its exact rate.

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Higher

Maine at a glance

Children in poverty

31K

Ages 0–17

Child poverty rate

12.6%

Ages 0–17

5–17 poverty rate

12.0%

Title I allocator

All-ages poverty

10.5%

Entire population

Concentration

1.20×

Child ÷ all-ages

Median income

$73,463

Inflation-adjusted

County-level hotspots

Five-county rankings across 16 counties in Maine.

Highest child poverty

Ages 0–17, rate

  1. 1 Washington County 20.7%
  2. 2 Piscataquis County 20.0%
  3. 3 Oxford County 19.4%
  4. 4 Waldo County 18.5%
  5. 5 Somerset County 18.0%

Lowest child poverty

Ages 0–17, rate

  1. 1 Cumberland County 7.3%
  2. 2 York County 8.9%
  3. 3 Sagadahoc County 10.9%
  4. 4 Knox County 13.0%
  5. 5 Penobscot County 13.0%

Most children in poverty

Absolute count, ages 0–17

  1. 1 Cumberland County 4K
  2. 2 Androscoggin County 4K
  3. 3 Penobscot County 3K
  4. 4 Kennebec County 3K
  5. 5 York County 3K

Every county in Maine

All 16 counties across the five SAIPE metrics plus median income.

County Children 0–17 Ages 5–17 All ages Concentration Child count Median income
Androscoggin County 16.6% 14.5% 13.0% 1.28× 3,774 $63,456
Aroostook County 15.2% 15.1% 12.1% 1.26× 1,883 $56,361
Cumberland County 7.3% 7.3% 6.9% 1.06× 3,959 $96,255
Franklin County 15.6% 15.2% 13.6% 1.15× 794 $56,509
Hancock County 13.2% 12.3% 10.1% 1.31× 1,157 $72,647
Kennebec County 14.7% 14.6% 11.5% 1.28× 3,386 $64,643
Knox County 13.0% 12.5% 8.6% 1.51× 869 $70,533
Lincoln County 13.8% 12.8% 9.8% 1.41× 794 $74,569
Oxford County 19.4% 19.2% 14.5% 1.34× 1,986 $60,220
Penobscot County 13.0% 11.8% 12.6% 1.03× 3,437 $65,215
Piscataquis County 20.0% 19.8% 15.3% 1.31× 571 $51,787
Sagadahoc County 10.9% 10.2% 8.7% 1.25× 712 $83,180
Somerset County 18.0% 16.6% 13.3% 1.35× 1,650 $56,422
Waldo County 18.5% 18.0% 12.7% 1.46× 1,284 $68,345
Washington County 20.7% 19.3% 20.1% 1.03× 1,180 $48,104
York County 8.9% 8.7% 8.1% 1.10× 3,339 $85,445

Help for families in Maine

Free meals, WIC, SNAP, and nutrition help for children in low-income households.

Families & children guide

Maine SNAP benefits

State-by-state SNAP eligibility, apply online, benefit amounts, and coverage gaps.

Maine SNAP guide

Find a food pantry

Search Maine's verified pantries — by ZIP, city, or county.

Maine food pantries