Population 41,003 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Knox County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Knox County
Household size in Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.27 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.16 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.19 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Knox County are small: just 2.16 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.34 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Maine county has smaller households.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.3 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.6 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.8 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.7 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.4 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
Knox County skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.7, 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 45.3 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Maine county is older.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.3% of households in Knox County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.6 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Knox County has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Maine counties.
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 Knox County
Renters in Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.3% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.0% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.8% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.3% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Knox County is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (44.3%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.5% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.8% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Knox County: 22.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.9 points, as it has nationally.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Knox County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1972 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the southeast. Only two of Maine's 16 counties have older homes.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $717 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $821 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $907 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,245 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$528 | +$464 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Knox County costs $1,245 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $528 a month since 2006–10, up 74%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the center.
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 Knox County
Bachelor's degrees in Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.5% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.0% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.6% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.5% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Knox County than nationally: 40.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 13.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of Maine's 16 counties, only two have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.7% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.2% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.2% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Knox County: 95.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Maine. The share with a diploma is up 5.5 points from 2006–10, 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 Knox County
| Period | Knox County | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Knox County than nationally: unemployment was 3.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Knox County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | 2.16 | 49.7 | 7.3% | 21.3% | 22.6% | 1972 | $1,245 | 40.5% | 95.2% | 3.5% |
| Lincoln County | 2.18 | 50.4 | 6.9% | 17.5% | 25.2% | 1978 | $1,034 | 39.6% | 94.9% | 3.2% |
| Androscoggin County | 2.41 | 40.7 | 11.4% | 32.1% | 8.3% | 1970 | $1,064 | 23.6% | 92.9% | 4.6% |
| Oxford County | 2.45 | 47.1 | 8.6% | 19.4% | 28.2% | 1974 | $912 | 23.4% | 92.8% | 4.2% |
| Washington County | 2.29 | 44.5 | 9.2% | 26.3% | 12.3% | 1968 | $1,314 | 47.7% | 96.1% | 2.8% |
| Addison County | 2.30 | 45.3 | 5.7% | 20.7% | 14.1% | 1976 | $1,321 | 46.3% | 95.7% | 3.8% |
| Essex County | 2.14 | 49.7 | 10.1% | 22.7% | 32.0% | 1965 | $1,006 | 33.2% | 92.9% | 4.0% |
| Jefferson County | 2.40 | 37.2 | 10.8% | 45.3% | 15.2% | 1974 | $1,151 | 26.5% | 92.6% | 6.3% |
| Arenac County | 2.29 | 49.5 | 7.9% | 13.8% | 27.3% | 1977 | $750 | 16.1% | 88.3% | 6.3% |
| Ogemaw County | 2.22 | 49.8 | 9.8% | 16.3% | 33.5% | 1976 | $819 | 17.2% | 90.8% | 6.7% |
| Manitowoc County | 2.30 | 45.7 | 9.8% | 22.9% | 8.4% | 1965 | $829 | 22.7% | 92.1% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Allegany County, NY · Auglaize County, OH · Monroe County, TN · Newaygo County, MI · Nelson County, KY · Natchitoches Parish, LA · Muscatine County, IA · Murray County, GA · Muhlenberg County, KY · Mower County, MN
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 Knox County. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.