Area Profile
“The Crown of Maine.” or “North of Ordinary.” These are common phrases used by local area organizations and businesses to describe Aroostook County. Washington County is sometimes referred to as the “Sunrise County” because it includes the eastern most point in the United States, and where many believe the sun first rises on the forty-eight contiguous states.
Natural resources comprise a large portion of economic activity in the region, highlighted by agriculture, forestry and fishing. Manufacturing and tourism are two other major economic engines.
Fresh air. Wide-open spaces. Affordable housing. Low crime. Quality education. These are all part of our home and we invite you to take a closer look.
Demographics
Aroostook County is home to a population of over 65,000 and Washington County has a population of about 31,500. Learn more through the resource links below.
Maine Office of Policy and Managment
The Maine Office of Policy and Management is the Census clearinghouse with municipal level information.
Maine Department of Labor
The Maine Department of Labor keeps current and historical statistics on industry, labor force, income, employers, education, and much more. You can select a category and choose to obtain stats on Maine, County, Town, or Labor Market Area for a certain month, year, or range of years.
Center for Workforce & Research Information
The Local Employment Dynamics (LED) Program is an innovative new state/federal partnership with the US Census Bureau and the Maine Department of Labor to provide new demographic employment information, Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI). Local decision makers—employers, workers, transportation agencies, education and training institutions, and economic development agencies—increasingly need detailed local information about their economies to make informed decisions, but are frustrated by the lack of timely local data. The LED partnership works to fill critical data gaps and provide the type of workplace indicators needed by state and local authorities. Just as national economic indicators measure the performance of the overall economy, the QWI measure the performance of the local economy.
US Census Bureau
The Census Bureau provides official census statistics every ten years in addition to annual estimates and projections. Town specific data and area profiles for communities, the County, and State are available by year. You can also access historical census information for 1990 and 1980.
Censtats
Censtats is part of the US Census Bureau and allows you to choose a state and search for a specific city or town. The results are demographic profiles which include demographics, social characteristics, economic characteristics, and housing characteristics for Census 2000.
Schools and Higher Education
Aroostook and Washington counties offers high-quality education from pre-school to high school, with public school options as well as the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, which was ranked number two on the list of America’s Best High Schools by U.S. News & World Report in 2019.
Aroostook is home to four post-secondary institutions, University of Maine at Fort Kent, U-M at Presque Isle, Husson University and Northern Maine Community College and Washington County has the University of Maine at Machias and Washington County Community College.
Labor Statistics
Both counties are a great place to live, work, or start a business. You can find all labor-related data at the Maine Department of Labor website. Visit the sites below for searchable statistical information.
Maine Office of Policy and Managment
The Maine Office of Policy and Management is the Census clearinghouse with municipal level information.
Maine Department of Labor
The Maine Department of Labor’s Labor Market Analysis department keeps current and historical statistics on industry, labor force, income, employers, education, and much more. You can select a category and choose to obtain stats on Maine, County, Town, or Labor Market Area for a certain month, year, or range of years.
Center for Workforce & Research Information
The Local Employment Dynamics (LED) Program is an innovative new state/federal partnership with the US Census Bureau and the Maine Department of Labor to provide new demographic employment information, Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI). Local decision makers—employers, workers, transportation agencies, education and training institutions, and economic development agencies—increasingly need detailed local information about their economies to make informed decisions, but are frustrated by the lack of timely local data. The LED partnership works to fill critical data gaps and provide the type of workplace indicators needed by state and local authorities. Just as national economic indicators measure the performance of the overall economy, the QWI measure the performance of the local economy.
US Census Bureau
The Census Bureau provides official census statistics every ten years in addition to annual estimates and projections. Town specific data and area profiles for communities, the County, and State are available by year. You can also access historical census information for 1990 and 1980.
Censtats
Censtats is part of the US Census Bureau and allows you to choose a state and search for a specific city or town. The results are demographic profiles which include demographics, social characteristics, economic characteristics, and housing characteristics for Census 2010.
Living in Aroostook and Washington Counties
The rural American lifestyle is alive and well in Northern and Eastern Maine. Living here, you’ll find yourself among people who take pride in what they do. Your neighbors are people you’ll know by first name when you meet them on the street, and you’ll have a real opportunity to make a positive impact on the community you live in.
The US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics provides data for the US and Northeast metropolitan areas including Bangor, Lewiston-Auburn, and Portland.
To view the cost of living for Maine, visit http://www.cityrating.com/costOfLiving/state.asp?state=ME
A cost of living calculator is available at http://www.homefair.com/
There is a sufficient number of health facilities that will accommodate nearly everyone’s needs. Ongoing additions to both facilities and services have helped ensure that residents of Aroostook have local access to the latest advancements in quality healthcare.
Hospitals:
- Cary Medical Center, Caribou: Walk-in clinic and 24-hour emergency service; state-of-the-art outpatient rehab center; St. John Valley Health Center; Maine Veterans Home
- Houlton Regional Hospital: 24-hour emergency service; 91 beds and 16 physicians on staff; 10 specialty clinics
- Northern Maine Medical Center, Fort Kent: Modern 52-bed acute care facility; physician staffed 24-hour emergency room; Madawaska Outpatient Center
- Northern Light AR Gould Hospital: 24-hour emergency service; central health care facility in Presque Isle with seven health centers located throughout central Aroostook
Health Center Services:
- Health 1st: Primary and preventative health services with offices in Fort Kent, Presque Isle, and Houlton
- Horizons Health Services: Primary, OB/GYN, and pediatric care; general surgery
- Pines Health Services: Primary, OB/GYN, and pediatric care; thoracic, vascular, and general surgery
- Visiting Nurses of Aroostook: Home health care including skilled nursing and therapy services, counseling, and personal care