Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US metro and micro areas.

Safety79#198/924
Economy46#503/925
Housing35#598/925
Health27#675/925
Healthcare80#188/923
Environment74#235/917
Education82#169/925
Infrastructure40#554/925
Community42#541/925
Leisure & amenities52#445/925

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Bangor, ME metro area ranks highest and lowest among US metro and micro areas (score = percentile, 100 = best).

Strengths

Primary care physicians · high126 /100k
98/100Maine 107 /100kUnited States 76 /100k2022University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) · low4.5 µg/m³
97/100Maine 4.9 µg/m³United States 8.0 µg/m³2022Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyAggregated from counties
Violent crime rate · low74 /100k
96/100Maine 93 /100kUnited States 328 /100k2025Federal Bureau of InvestigationAggregated from counties
Mental health providers · high696 /100k
96/100Maine 586 /100kUnited States 348 /100k2025University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
High school diploma or higher · high94.8%
92/100Maine 94.8%United States 89.6%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B15003
Dentists · high90 /100k
91/100Maine 72 /100kUnited States 75 /100k2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties

Weaknesses

Comfortable days · low22.0%
2/100Maine 21.2%United States 26.8%2016-2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental InformationAggregated from counties
Depression · high29.9%
4/100Maine 28.4%United States 20.7%2023Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties
Drug overdose deaths · high33.5 /100k
7/100Maine 24.7 /100kUnited States 18.4 /100kMar 2025–Feb 2026Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties
Frequent mental distress · high20.8%
8/100Maine 20.4%United States 18.6%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Distance to an airport · high117 mi
10/100Maine 62 miUnited States 33 mi2025Federal Aviation Administration · Bureau of Transportation Statistics · U.S. Census BureauAggregated from counties
Injury deaths · high125 /100k
12/100Maine 113 /100kUnited States 87 /100k2019-2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

Drought exposureWorsening
9% (2021) → 74% (Oct 2025–Sep 2026)
+64 pts5 yearsUS 40% → 43%
Access to exercise opportunitiesImproving
53.5% (2010 & 2021) → 67.1% (2022 & 2024)
+14 pts3 yearsUS 79.8% → 84.5%
Suicide rateWorsening
13.0 /100k (2021) → 21.2 /100k (May 2025–Apr 2026)
+63%5 yearsUS 14.5 /100k → 14.1 /100k
Firearm deathsWorsening
8.5 /100k (2021) → 13.5 /100k (May 2025–Apr 2026)
+59%5 yearsUS 14.7 /100k → 12.1 /100k
Drug overdose deathsImproving
64.6 /100k (2021) → 33.5 /100k (Mar 2025–Feb 2026)
−48%5 yearsUS 30.8 /100k → 18.4 /100k
Cost of buying a home todayWorsening
24.3% (Dec 2021) → 33.2% (Aug 2026)
+8.9 pts5 yearsUS 26.4% → 34.1%

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Bangor, ME metro area improved on 12 of 31 measures with a comparison and declined on 6. 8 moved within the margin of error and 5 barely changed.

Earlier period
Latest period
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among metro and micro areas: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts. Periods differ by measure (most compare 2015-2019 with 2020-2024); each row names its own in its tooltip and in the table.

Improved12

Uninsured−2.9 points10.7% → 7.8%
Household income+31%$50,808 → $66,356
Homicides−41%2.9 /100k → 1.7 /100k
Firearm deaths−11%15.1 /100k → 13.5 /100k
Gyms+14%0.7 /10k → 0.8 /10k

Declined6

Violent crime+26%58 /100k → 73 /100k
Pharmacies−29%2.2 /10k → 1.6 /10k
Arts & recreation−6.3%4.9 /10k → 4.6 /10k
Grocery stores−10%2.0 /10k → 1.8 /10k
Suicides+15%18.4 /100k → 21.2 /100k

All 31 measures

Change of every measure of Bangor, ME metro area between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Arts, entertainment and recreation	4.9 /10k2020	4.6 /10k2025	−6.3%	Declined	19%
Average commute time	22.4 min2015-2019	22.7 min2020-2024	+0.3 min	Within the margin of error	53%
Average weekly wage	$9242020	$1,1052025	+20%	Improved	18%
Bachelor's degree or higher	27.7%2015-2019	30.1%2020-2024	+2.4 points	Improved	42%
Broadband subscriptions	81.6%2015-2019	88.8%2020-2024	+7.2 points	Improved	26%
Child poverty rate	17.7%2015-2019	15.6%2020-2024	−2.1 points	Within the margin of error	47%
Distance to an airport	117 mi2020	117 mi2025	0 mi	Little change	50%
Drug overdose deaths	51.3 /100k2020	33.5 /100kMar 2025–Feb 2026	−35%	Improved	63%
Effective property tax rate	1.41%2015-2019	1.11%2020-2024	−0.3 points	Little change	90%
Firearm deaths	15.1 /100k2020	13.5 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	−11%	Improved	67%
Grocery stores	2.0 /10k2020	1.8 /10k2025	−10%	Declined	23%
Gyms and fitness centers	0.7 /10k2020	0.8 /10k2025	+14%	Improved	63%
High school diploma or higher	92.0%2015-2019	94.8%2020-2024	+2.8 points	Within the margin of error	76%
Home price to income ratio	2.8×2015-2019	3.2×2020-2024	+0.4×	Declined	58%
Homicide rate	2.9 /100k2020	1.7 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	−41%	Improved	69%
Income adjusted for local prices	$44,2272019	$58,6402024	+33%	Improved	57%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.4542015-2019	0.4532020-2024	−0.001	Within the margin of error	57%
Median household income	$50,8082015-2019	$66,3562020-2024	+31%	Improved	68%
New business applications	6.1 /1k2020	8.7 /1k2025	+43%	Improved	45%
Pharmacies	2.2 /10k2020	1.6 /10k2025	−29%	Declined	9%
Poverty rate	14.8%2015-2019	14.1%2020-2024	−0.7 points	Within the margin of error	44%
Public libraries	1.3 /10k2019	1.3 /10k2024	−3.5%	Little change	34%
Public transit commuters	0.4%2015-2019	0.4%2020-2024	+0 points	Within the margin of error	86%
Rent as share of income	29.3%2015-2019	30.2%2020-2024	+0.9 points	Within the margin of error	40%
Rent-burdened households	48.3%2015-2019	50.4%2020-2024	+2.1 points	Within the margin of error	38%
Restaurants and bars	7.3 /10k2020	7.2 /10k2025	−1.9%	Little change	36%
Suicide rate	18.4 /100k2020	21.2 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	+15%	Declined	31%
Traffic deaths	12.1 /100k2015-2019	12.3 /100k2020-2024	+1.2%	Little change	60%
Unemployment rate	5.1%2020	3.7%2025	−1.4 points	Improved	9%
Uninsured residents (under 65)	10.7%2015-2019	7.8%2020-2024	−2.9 points	Improved	92%
Violent crime rate	58 /100k2020	73 /100k2025	+26%	Declined	10%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 708 metro and micro areas that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: Regional Economic Accounts; Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; Mapping Injury, Overdose, and Violence; American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates; Business Formation Statistics; Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Return A master files; Public Libraries Survey; Fatality Analysis Reporting System; Distance to airports and intercity rail. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 925 metro and micro areas that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Metro and micro areas like Bangor, ME metro area five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Bangor, ME metro area in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Bangor, ME metro area itself moved −1.6 points in standing on average over the same 29 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

154,710 residents

Men
Women

80 and over
70–79
60–69

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

65,221 households (±625)

Bangor, ME metro area
United States share

Under $25k18%11,608
$25k–50k20%13,146
$50k–75k18%11,879

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

65,221 households (±625)

Bangor, ME metro area
United States share

Own71%46,010
Rent29%19,211

No change since 2015–2019 is larger than the margin of error.

Table view

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

73,628 workers (±1,256)

Bangor, ME metro area
United States share

Drive alone76%55,670
Carpool7.3%5,360
Public transit0.4%†320

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The 10 largest occupations in Bangor, ME employ 18,300 people. 5 pay a median above the US median and 5 below it.

Above the US median
Below the US median

The largest occupations in Bangor, ME by employment, with median annual pay and how it compares with the United States
Occupation	Jobs	Median pay	vs USCompared with the US	Concentration
Fast Food and Counter Workers2,550 jobs	2,550	$34,140US $31,200	+9%	1.42×
Home Health and Personal Care Aides2,290 jobs	2,290	$37,900US $35,800	+6%	1.14×
Retail Salespersons2,210 jobs	2,210	$35,560US $35,410	0%	1.22×
Registered Nurses2,190 jobs	2,190	$93,940US $97,550	−4%	1.39×
Cashiers1,990 jobs	1,990	$32,200US $32,880	−2%	1.38×
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers1,440 jobs	1,440	$56,250US $58,640	−4%	1.5×
Stockers and Order Fillers1,440 jobs	1,440	$37,040US $37,330	−1%	1.09×
General and Operations Managers1,430 jobs	1,430	$91,110US $105,770	−14%	0.88×
Office Clerks, General1,390 jobs	1,390	$45,310US $45,010	+1%	1.22×
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1,370 jobs	1,370	$37,080US $36,840	+1%	1.34×

Look up any occupation

Search more than 800 occupations and see what they pay in Bangor, ME.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025-05 (all industries and ownerships) bls.gov/oes

Reference period: 2025-05. BLS publishes metro areas, states and the nation (not counties or cities), so a county or city page shows its metro area.
Pay is not adjusted for the cost of living, so a higher median does not mean more purchasing power.
BLS caps the highest wages it publishes: where a figure is shown as “or more”, the real value is at least that much.
Some occupations (teachers, performers) are published by the hour or school year and shown here as an annual figure.

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

Bangor, ME has 4,222 employer establishments, 269 for every 10,000 residents (1.08× the US rate of 248), with 60,749 paid employees at an average annual pay of $52,184. The Census Bureau also counts 11,013 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 4,222; 11,013 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 269; US 248
Paid employees: 60,749
Average annual pay: $52,184; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Bangor, ME by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Specialty trade contractors	341	21.7	1.40×More than typical	2,767	$73,292	1,052
Ambulatory health care services	317	20.2	0.97×About typical	4,861	$68,052	553
Restaurants and other eating places	252	16.1	0.87×About typical	4,622	$23,766	25
Lessors of real estate	190	12.1	0.98×About typical	584	$45,209	1,189
Construction of buildings	152	9.7	1.28×More than typical	645	$53,626	418
Building equipment contractors	139	8.9	1.47×More than typical	1,258	$62,637	233
Services to buildings and dwellings	128	8.2	1.21×About typical	1,129	$32,130	665
Truck transportation	114	7.3	1.44×More than typical	1,512	$57,037	143
Full-service restaurants	113	7.2	0.94×About typical	2,484	$25,242	9
Offices of other health practitioners	107	6.8	1.12×About typical	658	$61,223	306
Automotive repair and maintenance	105	6.7	1.33×More than typical	488	$48,797	164
Limited-service restaurants	89	5.7	0.71×Fewer than typical	1,567	$22,041	12

Rank places for an industry

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 156,839 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
A metro area's figures are the exact sums of its counties.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contract spending

In FY2026, federal agencies obligated $24.2M on contracts performed in Bangor, ME metro area: $153 per resident (US $1,994).

Obligations: $24.2M; −72% vs FY2025
Per resident: $153; US $1,994
Sole-source: 32%; US 30%
Single offer: 13%; US 8.8%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management$11.8M49%
Department of Veterans Affairs$7.5M31%
Food and Drug Administration$2M8.2%
Department of the Army$648.1K2.7%
Departmental Offices$471.3K1.9%
Public Buildings Service$328.8K1.4%
Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons$188.9K0.8%
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service$180.6K0.7%

Top recipients

ARBOR E & T LLC$11M45%
LOPEZ CARLOS L$7M29%
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM$2M8.2%
CAREER SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION$808.7K3.3%
STRATEGIC MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC$494.5K2.0%

Spending by fiscal year

30.8MFY2017
44.3MFY2018
52.2MFY2019
50.7MFY2020
48.5MFY2021
92.8MFY2022
87.1MFY2023
126.6M

Top industries (NAICS)

Technical and trade schools · 6115$11.8M49%
Vocational rehabilitation services · 6243$7M29%
Colleges, universities, and professional schools · 6113$2.1M8.6%
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services · 5416$659.9K2.7%
Support activities for air transportation · 4881$471.3K1.9%
Architectural, engineering, and related services · 5413

Largest awards

OPERATIONS OF THE PENOBSCOT JOB CORPS CENTER WITH OA AND CTS.$58.7M
CAREER SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION· Penobscot County, ME· Education & social services· Dec 26, 2018 – Feb 18, 2026· 1630J119C0004
OPERATION OF THE PENOBSCOT JOB CORPS CENTER WITH OUTREACH AND ADMISSIONS AND CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES.$29.7M
ARBOR E & T LLC· Penobscot County, ME· Education & social services· Mar 22, 2024 – Aug 19, 2026· 1605JE24C0011
TASKS A.1, A.2, B.1 AND B.2$10.7M
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM· Penobscot County, ME· Research & development· Sep 28, 2023 – May 12, 2026· W911QY23C0090
EXTENDABLE - PANELIZED AND COLLAPSIBLE SHELTER (E-PACS) DESIGN REFINEMENT, FABRICATION OF ADDITIONAL UNITS, TRAINING AND SUPPORT

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 3, 2026, loaded Oct 3, 2026.

Federal grants & assistance

Grants, loans (counted at their subsidy cost), direct payments and insurance, by fiscal year of the action (USAspending.gov, FABS). Reported apart from contracts and never added to them.

In FY2026, federal agencies obligated $1.4B in grants, loans, direct payments and insurance for Bangor, ME metro area: $9,118 per resident (US $12,955).

Assistance · FY2026: $1.4B; +10% vs FY2025
Per resident: $9,118; US $12,955
Loan face value: $97.8M; lent or guaranteed
To individuals: 0.4%; counted, never named

Top programs

96.002 · Social Security Retirement Insurance$645.1M45%
64.109 · Veterans Compensation for Service-Connected Disability$134.2M9.3%
96.001 · Social Security Disability Insurance$119.4M8.3%
96.004 · Social Security Survivors Insurance$66.5M4.6%
20.264 · Bridge Investment Program$63M4.4%
11.071 · 2026 Congressionally Identified Construction Grants$44.6M3.1%
96.006 · Supplemental Security Income$38.7M2.7%
20.933 · National Infrastructure Investments$33.5M2.3%

Top recipients (organizations)

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION$146.3M10%
AUGUSTA, ME
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM$96.7M6.7%
ORONO, ME
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM$17.5M1.2%
ORONO, ME
PENOBSCOT INDIAN NATION$13.7M1.0%
OLD TOWN, ME
CITY OF BANGOR$12.9M

Organizations only: awards to individuals and county aggregate records count in the totals but are never listed. Grants to state governments recorded at the agency's own address are counted statewide, not in the capital's county.

Top agencies

Social Security Administration$869.7M60%
Federal Highway Administration$154.2M11%
Department of Transportation
Under Secretary for Benefits/Veterans Benefits Administration$152.5M11%
Department of Veterans Affairs
National Institute of Standards and Technology$45.8M3.2%
Department of Commerce
Department of Education

Assistance by fiscal year

1.2BFY2021
1.1BFY2022
1.2BFY2023
1.3BFY2024
1.3BFY2025
1.4BFY2026

County aggregates

72%

Share of obligations reported only as county totals of many small awards (for example Social Security or Medicare payments), with no recipient named.

Source: Federal financial assistance transactions (Financial Assistance Broker Submission) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 3, 2026, loaded Oct 3, 2026 · FY2021–FY2026.

Counties in Bangor, ME

Whole counties, as the U.S. Office of Management and Budget delineates the area. Federal spending below is the exact sum of these counties.

Penobscot CountyCentral county67157,967

Principal cities

The cities the area is named for.

BangorPrincipal city31,938

Largest cities and towns

By population, for places with most of their residents in the area.

Other metro and micro areas in Maine

Areas based in Maine, best score first.

Similar metro and micro areas

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

Mapping Injury, Overdose, and ViolenceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2026-10-01
PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Daily county PM2.5 and ozone (EPA downscaler model)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · release 2022
Care Compare: Hospital General Information and Timely and Effective CareCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services · release 2026-07-22
Distance to airports and intercity railFederal Aviation Administration · Bureau of Transportation Statistics · U.S. Census Bureau · release 2025+amtrak-2026-04-23
Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Return A master filesFederal Bureau of Investigation · release 2025
Public Libraries SurveyInstitute of Museum and Library Services · release FY2024
U.S. Drought Monitor county statisticsNational Drought Mitigation Center (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), USDA and NOAA · release 2026-09-29
Fatality Analysis Reporting SystemNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration · release 2024
nClimGrid-Daily county averagesNOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · release 2025
Regional Economic AccountsU.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · release 2024
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2026 Q1
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Building Permits SurveyU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-08
Business Formation StatisticsU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-10-01
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Alternative Fuels Data Center station locatorU.S. Department of Energy · release 2026-10
Election Administration and Voting SurveyU.S. Election Assistance Commission · release 2024
Air Quality Index Annual Summary by CountyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency · release 2025
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement
Zillow Home Value Index, Observed Rent Index and affordabilityZillow Research · release 2026-08

JSON · /api/v1/places/M12620

Scores by category

Strengths · Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Trends

What changed in five years

Improved12

Declined6

Metro and micro areas like Bangor, ME metro area five years ago that improved

Who lives here

Age and sex

Income

Household income

Homes

Owners and renters

Getting to work

How people get to work

Jobs and pay

Look up any occupation

Local businesses

Federal contract spending

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

Top industries (NAICS)

Largest awards

Federal grants & assistance

Top programs

Top recipients (organizations)

Top agencies

Assistance by fiscal year

County aggregates

Counties in Bangor, ME

Principal cities

Largest cities and towns

Other metro and micro areas in Maine

Similar metro and micro areas

Data and sources

Improved12

Declined6

Age and sex

Household income

Owners and renters

How people get to work

Race and Hispanic origin

Education

Rent paid

Home values

Age of homes

Size of homes

Time to get to work

Look up any occupation

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

Top industries (NAICS)

Largest awards

What was bought

Top programs

Top recipients (organizations)

Top agencies

Assistance by fiscal year

County aggregates

By type