Piscataquis County's composite score of 69.8 places it in the 70th percentile nationally, outpacing seven in ten U.S. counties. This northern Maine county delivers strong livability despite a remote location.
2 / 5
Tops Maine's average
Piscataquis leads Maine with a score of 69.8, well above the state average of 66.9. It ranks among Maine's best-performing counties on overall livability.
3 / 5
Affordability and low taxes
Piscataquis shines with the state's most affordable housing (cost score 82.7) and lowest effective tax rate at 0.970%. Median home values sit at just $153,300, making homeownership highly accessible.
4 / 5
Income and environmental risk
Piscataquis's income score of 19.4 is the lowest in the group, with median household income of $55,234 reflecting limited economic opportunities. Its risk score of 47.7 indicates moderate exposure to climate or economic volatility.
5 / 5
Perfect for rural-loving minimalists
Piscataquis County is ideal for retirees, remote workers, and back-to-the-land families who value affordable housing and minimal tax burden over urban amenities or high local wages. It offers genuine Maine wilderness living at rock-bottom costs.
Piscataquis County's composite score of 69.8 places it in the 70th percentile nationally, outpacing seven in ten U.S. counties. This northern Maine county delivers strong livability despite a remote location.
Tops Maine's average
Piscataquis leads Maine with a score of 69.8, well above the state average of 66.9. It ranks among Maine's best-performing counties on overall livability.
Affordability and low taxes
Piscataquis shines with the state's most affordable housing (cost score 82.7) and lowest effective tax rate at 0.970%. Median home values sit at just $153,300, making homeownership highly accessible.
Income and environmental risk
Piscataquis's income score of 19.4 is the lowest in the group, with median household income of $55,234 reflecting limited economic opportunities. Its risk score of 47.7 indicates moderate exposure to climate or economic volatility.
Perfect for rural-loving minimalists
Piscataquis County is ideal for retirees, remote workers, and back-to-the-land families who value affordable housing and minimal tax burden over urban amenities or high local wages. It offers genuine Maine wilderness living at rock-bottom costs.
Score breakdown
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Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Piscataquis County's effective tax rate of 0.970% is among the lowest in the nation, well below the U.S. median of 1.1%. The county's median property tax of just $1,487 is less than 55% of the national median of $2,690, reflecting both low tax rates and more modest property values.
Maine's most tax-friendly county
Piscataquis County boasts Maine's lowest effective tax rate at 0.970%, significantly below the state average of 1.107%. With a median tax of $1,487 against the state median of $2,598, Piscataquis is clearly the most affordable option for Maine property owners.
Clear winner in regional comparison
Piscataquis County's 0.970% rate substantially undercuts Oxford (1.094%), Penobscot (1.256%), and Somerset (1.159%) counties. This makes Piscataquis an outlier—the most tax-efficient county in central Maine.
Annual taxes of just $1,487
On a median home value of $153,300, Piscataquis County's 0.970% rate results in approximately $1,487 in annual property taxes. Homeowners with mortgages pay around $1,684 annually, making this the most affordable tax environment in Maine.
Verify assessments for additional savings
Even with Maine's lowest tax rates, Piscataquis homeowners should ensure their assessments reflect current market values. An appeal could uncover additional savings, however modest.
Piscataquis County renters spend 17.5% of income on rent, holding close to Maine's state average of 17.4% and well below national stress levels. Median household income of $55,234 is lower than the U.S. average, but housing costs scale proportionally, keeping affordability manageable.
Piscataquis Ranks Among Maine's Most Affordable
With a rent-to-income ratio of 17.5%, Piscataquis sits right at the state median, making it one of Maine's more affordable counties overall. This balance reflects both low housing costs and a cost-of-living structure suited to rural Maine's economic reality.
Piscataquis Ties Oxford in Affordability
Piscataquis and Oxford County both charge $807 in median rent, making them the most affordable options in the state's interior. Home values are lowest here at $153,300—$40,000 below Oxford—giving this remote county an edge for buyers on tight budgets.
Rents and Mortgages Both Low
Renters spend $807 monthly on a median income of $55,234, while homeowners pay just $738 in mortgage costs—the lowest in the region. Combined, housing accounts for roughly 18% of household income, a sustainable level for this rural Maine county.
Piscataquis: Maine's Best-Kept Bargain
If affordability is your priority and you embrace rural living, Piscataquis delivers the lowest home values and rents tied with Oxford County. This is Maine's sweet spot for relocating families seeking maximum housing stability on modest incomes.
Piscataquis County significantly below national norm
At $55,234, Piscataquis County's median household income trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by 26.1%—one of the widest gaps among Maine counties. This reflects the county's small population and limited job diversity.
Second-lowest income in Maine
Piscataquis County ranks among Maine's poorest counties, earning $11,638 less than the state median of $66,872. Only Washington County reports lower median household income statewide.
Struggling compared to surrounding counties
Piscataquis's $55,234 median ranks lowest among its regional peers—Oxford ($57,933), Somerset ($56,199), and Penobscot ($63,248) all report higher incomes. Economic opportunity concentrates in larger regional centers.
Housing remains affordable despite low wages
Piscataquis County's 17.5% rent-to-income ratio and low median home value of $153,300 make housing costs manageable relative to earnings. However, limited income leaves little margin for other essential expenses.
Every dollar counts in wealth building
Piscataquis County residents earning $55,234 should prioritize emergency savings first—even $50 monthly builds resilience against income shocks. Once stabilized, micro-investing platforms allow small regular contributions to grow over decades.
Piscataquis County's life expectancy of 75.4 years falls 1.0 year short of the U.S. average of 76.4 years, reflecting the health pressures of Maine's smallest and most rural county. The 15.9% poor or fair health rate mirrors national patterns, but the shorter lifespan signals underlying health challenges.
Rural Maine's Health Gap
Piscataquis County's 75.4-year life expectancy ranks it 1.3 years below Maine's state average of 76.7, placing it among the state's healthiest-challenged counties. This rural, sparsely populated county faces geographic barriers to healthcare that shape community health outcomes.
Fewest Providers in Rural Region
Piscataquis County has just 58 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, the lowest in its peer group—trailing Oxford (67) and Waldo (80) by significant margins. With 240 mental health providers per 100K, the county has adequate mental health capacity but limited primary care reach in a dispersed population.
Isolation Compounds Healthcare Gaps
Piscataquis County's 9.1% uninsured rate is close to Maine's 9.4% state average, but the real barrier is geography: with only 58 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, access requires travel in this sparsely settled county. Telehealth and regional partnerships become critical lifelines for preventive care in this remote region.
Coverage Is Your First Step
In Piscataquis County, ensuring health coverage is the foundation—9.1% of residents remain uninsured despite state protections. Explore Maine's marketplace and telehealth options to bridge geographic distance: visit maine.gov or call rural health clinics in Greenville and Dover-Foxcroft.
Piscataquis County's composite risk score of 52.35 places it in the relatively low category and actually falls below the Maine state average of 56.75. This northern inland county benefits from geographic isolation from coastal hazards and lower population density that reduces overall exposure to natural disasters. However, residents still face meaningful hurricane exposure (75.80) that can affect the region through tropical storm systems.
Among Maine's safest counties
Piscataquis County ranks near the bottom of Maine's natural disaster risk profile at 52.35, placing it among the state's lowest-risk areas alongside Sagadahoc and Waldo counties. Its composite score sits nearly 5 points below Maine's average, reflecting minimal exposure to tornadoes (8.87), earthquakes (40.62), and wildfires (9.16). The county's remote, forested character and limited urban infrastructure create a naturally resilient environment.
Safer than all surrounding counties
Piscataquis's 52.35 score ranks it as the lowest-risk county in its region, well below Penobscot County (78.02) to the east and Somerset County (67.94) to the south. Washington County (47.55) is the only northeastern Maine neighbor approaching similar risk levels, though Piscataquis's flood risk of 35.18 remains lower than Washington's 74.60. The county's inland location and forest-dominated landscape create a natural buffer against most major hazards.
Hurricanes present the main threat
Hurricane risk at 75.80 is Piscataquis County's primary natural disaster concern, though tropical storm impacts are less severe than in coastal Maine. Flood risk of 35.18 is relatively modest for Maine, making water damage less common than in downstream counties. Tornado (8.87) and wildfire (9.16) risks are negligible, allowing residents to concentrate preparedness efforts on wind and precipitation-related hazards from Atlantic storms.
Hurricane prep and basic insurance suffice
Standard homeowners insurance provides adequate coverage for Piscataquis County given the low composite risk of 52.35, though wind and hail endorsements strengthen hurricane preparedness. Flood insurance is less urgent than in coastal counties but may still benefit residents in river valleys and flood-prone neighborhoods. Regular maintenance, tree trimming, and roof reinforcement address the county's primary hurricane exposure more cost-effectively than comprehensive specialized coverage.