Population 7,884 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Caribou
Household size in Caribou
| Period | Caribou | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.35 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.22 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.11 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.24 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Caribou is a place of small households, averaging 2.11 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.35, a much bigger shift than nationally. Caribou has smaller households than the great majority of Maine cities.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Caribou
| Period | Caribou | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.1 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.7 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.5 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.1 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Caribou skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 42.5 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Caribou
| Period | Caribou | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.4% of households in Caribou, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.0 points, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Caribou
Renters in Caribou
| Period | Caribou | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.5% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.1% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.0% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.5% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Caribou own their homes; 26.5% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 56.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Caribou
| Period | Caribou | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.7% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.1% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.9% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Caribou than nationally: 12.9%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Still, the rate is lower than in Maine overall (16.4%).
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Caribou
| Period | Caribou | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1965 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
Caribou is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1960 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Caribou
| Period | Caribou | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $545 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $654 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $592 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $683 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$137 | +$464 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Caribou costs $683 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $137 a month since 2006–10, up 25%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 26.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Caribou has the lowest rents of any Maine city with 5,000+ people.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Caribou
Bachelor's degrees in Caribou
| Period | Caribou | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.3% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.2% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.3% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.7% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Caribou than nationally: 26.7% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 4.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Caribou
| Period | Caribou | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.1% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.5% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.0% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.3% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Caribou is close to the national rate: 90.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Maine as a whole (94.8%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.1 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Caribou
| Period | Caribou | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Caribou runs below the national rate: 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. The picture is much the same across Maine. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Caribou compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caribou | 2.11 | 47.5 | 6.4% | 26.5% | 12.9% | 1964 | $683 | 26.7% | 90.3% | 4.1% |
| Colby | 2.56 | 46.5 | 8.2% | 2.2% | 16.4% | 1977 | $504 | 11.1% | 89.6% | 3.6% |
| North Wade | 2.37 | 48.6 | 5.6% | 14.4% | 16.7% | 1974 | $509 | 15.7% | 88.8% | 6.6% |
| Morris Corner | 2.25 | 49.0 | 10.2% | 28.1% | 17.3% | 1963 | $893 | 32.7% | 91.2% | 2.0% |
| New Sweden | 2.44 | 51.8 | 8.1% | 10.1% | 25.9% | 1972 | $745 | 23.6% | 96.1% | 4.7% |
| North Lyndon | 2.23 | 48.5 | 7.1% | 20.8% | 22.1% | 1973 | $847 | 14.3% | 86.5% | 6.8% |
| Goodrich | 2.29 | 42.3 | 12.2% | 31.0% | 24.7% | 1998 | $850 | 41.7% | 91.4% | 8.1% |
| Washburn | 2.28 | 46.4 | 7.3% | 20.3% | 15.6% | 1969 | $495 | 26.7% | 90.7% | 6.7% |
| Limestone | 2.15 | 45.5 | 11.9% | 35.8% | 17.3% | 1960 | $822 | 19.1% | 89.6% | 7.2% |
| Four Corners | 2.19 | 43.1 | 10.6% | 34.9% | 18.6% | 1971 | $796 | 24.3% | 90.7% | 7.7% |
| Sweden | 2.40 | 52.3 | 6.4% | 11.3% | 24.2% | 1972 | $745 | 24.0% | 96.3% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Silver Springs Shores, FL · Clear Lake, IA · Clearwater Beach, FL · Colusa, CA · Corry, PA · Cos Cob, CT · Cottontown, TN · Crete, NE · Frankfort, NY · Scottsburg, IN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Caribou. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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