Overview
The Katahdin Region, which in this project includes Millinocket, East Millinocket, Medway, Stacyville, Sherman, Patten, Mount Chase, and Island Falls, has experienced significant socioeconomic change over the past few years and citizens are actively exploring opportunities to make the region a more resilient and robust place to live, work, and play. Collating and comparing socioeconomic indicators is a well-regarded approach to both developing a ‘snapshot’ of the current state of a community, but also assessing whether an area is making positive strides in terms of social and economic development. A key part of this project is to collate several socioeconomic indicators for the greater Katahdin Region. In addition to tracking these data over time, we also compare them to Penobscot and Aroostook Counties, the State of Maine and the United States. These indicators can help provide insight on where the area may be succeeding as well as opportunities for improvement.
Detailed factsheets for each municipality in the Katahdin Region can be accessed through the following links:
- Katahdin Region
- Millinocket
- East Millinocket
- Medway
- Sherman
- Stacyville
- Patten
- Mount Chase
- Island Falls
Regional Comparison of Key Indicators
The Katahdin Region has faced significant socio-economic changes in recent years and lags the two counties it is located in, the state, and the country in many key indicators. Between 2000 and 2017, the region has experienced a 12.2% decline in population, and with a median age of 52.6 years, Katahdin’s residents are older than the other areas of comparison. In 2017, the region’s unemployment rate was approximately 8%, and only 47% of the residents aged 16 and older were participating in the labor force. However, the Katahdin Region’s estimated poverty rates are relatively low, which can be partially attributed to low housing values compared to household income and a high proportion of retirees in the area who may be living of social security and other savings.
A detailed list of indicators for each municipality in the region can be accessed here: Katahdin Region Socioeconomic Indicators 2017 (pdf file)
Table 1. Key Socioeconomic Indicators, 2017
| Indicator (source) | Katahdin Region | Penobscot County | Aroostook County | Maine | USA |
| Change in Population, 2010-2017 (1,2) | -3.0% | -1.1% | -4.2% | 0.1% | 4.0% |
| Change in Population, 2000-2017 (1,2) | -12.2% | -0.4% | -4.9% | 0.2% | 5.6% |
| Median Age (2) | 52.6 | 41.8 | 47.2 | 44.3 | 37.8 |
| Education: high school graduate or higher (2) | 88% | 91.4% | 87.6% | 92.1% | 87.3% |
| Education: bachelor’s degree or higher (2) | 11.4% | 26.2% | 18.5% | 30.3% | 30.9% |
| Median Household (HH) Income (2) | $35,501 | $47,886 | $39,021 | $53,024 | $57,652 |
| Labor Force Participation Rate (2) | 46.6% | 61% | 55% | 63% | 63% |
| Unemployment Rate (3) | 7.8% | 3.3% | 4.6% | 2.7% | 4.4% |
| Mean work commute (minutes) (2) | 23 | 23 | 18 | 24 | 26 |
| People below poverty level: Total (2) | 14.8% | 15.9% | 17.5% | 12.9% | 14.6% |
| People below poverty level: Under 18 (2) | 16.7% | 19.2% | 22.1% | 16.7% | 20.3% |
| People below poverty level: 65 and older (2) | 9.1% | 8.1% | 12.9% | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Median house age (2) | 1961 | 1973 | 1972 | 1973 | 1976 |
| Median housing value (2) | $69,874 | $137,900 | $97,000 | $179,900 | $193,500 |
| Property Tax Rate (4) | 29.3 | 18.6 | 17.8 | N/A | N/A |
Sources: 1) US Census Bureau, Decennial Census; 2) US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-year estimates; 3) Maine Department of Labor, Center for Workforce Research and Information; 4) Maine Revenue Service, Property Tax Division.
The 2016 list of indicators can be accessed here: Katahdin Region Socioeconomic Indicators 2016 (pdf file)