Cost of Living in Knox County, Maine
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Knox County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Knox County ranks #2,568 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 18%)
Sourced county brief
Knox County Median Home Value Estimated at $324,900
The median home value in Knox County is $324,900, which is $64,175 higher than the Maine unweighted county mean of $260,725. Housing costs for both renters and owners in the county sit above state benchmarks. The median gross rent was estimated at $1,165 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,020 by $145. Owner-occupied units have a median selected monthly owner cost of $1,211, which is $132 above the state unweighted county mean of $1,079. According to ACS table B25071, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 30.0%. This figure is 1.0 percentage point higher than the state unweighted county mean of 29.0%. The median renter-household income is $42,426. Data are based on the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Knox County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.0% of renter household income in Knox County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,165 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,211. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $46,600 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Maine unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,020 per month. Knox County's $1,165 median is 14.2% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Knox County
Rent Burden
18.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,729
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.6%
of gross income
The median home in Knox County may be a stretch
Median home value is $324,900. Estimated monthly cost: $2,594 vs. your max of $1,729.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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