Washington County, Maine Income Statistics
Washington County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Washington County Well below averageAmong the 3 least wealthy counties in Maine
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Washington County | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,734 | $74,723 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,147 | $58,018 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.6% | 11.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.5% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Washington County is about 24% lower than in Maine. Income has been growing slower in Washington County (4.7%/yr) than in Maine (4.9%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Washington County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Maine average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Washington County, Maine grew by 64.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,734 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Washington County
| Metric | Washington County | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.522 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $59,171 | $66,614 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,348 | $55,906 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.4% | 16.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Washington County, it is 0.522, higher than Maine's 0.510, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 30% more than women's income in Washington County, Maine. Over a 35-year career, a 30% wage gap accumulates to roughly $483,805 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Washington County, Maine has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 23%. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2021, and was narrowest at 21% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,114 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Washington County | Maine Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.7% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 871 people are unemployed in Washington County, Maine.
The average commute time in Washington County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Maine.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Washington County, Maine has fallen from 10.9% to 6.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.2% in 2013.
Washington County, ME Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Washington County, ME is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 31,330 residents against a local median of 41,003. Washington County, ME's unemployment, at 6.3%, runs 69% above the 3.7% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $56,734 against a local median of $72,583, 22% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Washington County, ME reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves sit within 1.0% of each other on unemployment, a tighter band than the gap between any of them and Washington County, ME, which makes it a genuine outlier here rather than one end of a wide local spread. Washington County, ME has the 6th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, ME | 31,330 | $56,734 #6/6 | 4.7%/yr #5/6 | 6.3% #6/6 | 0.522 #5/6 |
| Hancock County, ME | 56,460 | $73,178 | 4.9%/yr | 4.6% | 0.506 |
| Penobscot County, ME | 154,700 | $66,372 | 4.9%/yr | 3.6% | 0.523 |
| Waldo County, ME | 40,192 | $72,583 | 6.1%/yr | 3.7% | 0.499 |
| Knox County, ME | 41,003 | $73,711 | 4.5%/yr | 3.9% | 0.514 |
| Piscataquis County, ME | 17,263 | $60,892 | 6.5%/yr | 3.6% | 0.512 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Washington County, Maine has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Maine, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Washington County, Maine.
How Rich Is Washington County, Maine?
Washington County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $56,734, about 24% lower than the Maine average of $74,723.
Are incomes growing in Washington County, Maine?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Washington County, Maine rose 65%, from $34,400 to $56,734. Over the same years, income here outpaced Maine as a whole: +65% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Washington County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Washington County, Maine was $53,164, up 4% from $51,208 in 2022. The Maine median that year was $72,024.
What was the median household income in Washington County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Washington County, Maine was $44,884. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $56,734.
How strong is the job market in Washington County, Maine?
Unemployment in Washington County, Maine is 6.3%, well above the Maine rate of 3.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Washington County, Maine?
The Gini coefficient in Washington County is 0.522. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Washington County, Maine?
The income gap between men and women in Washington County, Maine has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 23%. Over that period the gap was widest at 29% in 2021, and was narrowest at 21% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,114 since 2009.
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