Population 173 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in West Forks
Household size in West Forks
| Period | West Forks | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.89 | 2.37 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.85 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.85 | 2.35 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.70 | 2.30 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.19 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
West Forks is a place of small households, averaging 1.70 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 1.89 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 West Forks
| Period | West Forks | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.6 | 42.1 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 55.5 | 43.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 62.1 | 45.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 64.0 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.5 | +2.9 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 64.0, West Forks is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 West Forks
| Period | West Forks | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.0% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 1.7% | 10.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 9.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in West Forks: 3.7% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 West Forks
Renters in West Forks
| Period | West Forks | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.3% | 26.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 28.6% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 27.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 25.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −15.6 pts | −1.2 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 6.7% of households in West Forks rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 65.2% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 West Forks
| Period | West Forks | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.5% | 17.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 88.6% | 18.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 92.9% | 19.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 72.7% | 16.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −17.8 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 72.7% of the housing in West Forks, 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.
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 West Forks
| Period | West Forks | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in West Forks is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. That is in line with the rest of Maine.
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 West Forks
| Period | West Forks | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $470 | $766 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $534 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $720 | $919 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $850 | $1,230 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$380 | +$464 | +$606 |
The median renter in West Forks pays $850 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 23.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 West Forks
Bachelor's degrees in West Forks
| Period | West Forks | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.1% | 27.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.6% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.6% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.2% | 36.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.1 pts | +9.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in West Forks (39.2%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. The picture is much the same across Maine.
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 West Forks
| Period | West Forks | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.2% | 89.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.5% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.5% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.2% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +4.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in West Forks: 96.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Maine.
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 West Forks
| Period | West Forks | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 6.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 1.4% | 7.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 3.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 6.1%, unemployment in West Forks is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Maine overall (3.9%). 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).
West Forks 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Forks | 1.70 | 64.0 | 3.7% | 6.7% | 72.7% | 1971 | $850 | 39.2% | 96.2% | 6.1% |
| New Portland | 1.89 | 60.2 | 7.6% | 11.8% | 64.0% | 1978 | $851 | 24.0% | 93.0% | 2.2% |
| Pleasant Pond | 1.68 | 64.0 | 3.8% | 6.8% | 72.8% | 1971 | $850 | 38.4% | 96.1% | 6.4% |
| Caratunk | 1.84 | 60.9 | 6.7% | 8.0% | 54.6% | 1978 | $850 | 26.7% | 95.6% | 4.9% |
| Shirley Mills | 2.28 | 51.5 | 7.1% | 7.7% | 69.3% | 1983 | $837 | 24.2% | 93.3% | 6.5% |
| Greenville Junction | 2.53 | 47.7 | 19.5% | 1.0% | 73.6% | 1965 | $676 | 7.5% | 99.4% | 28.6% |
| Greenville | 1.86 | 61.2 | 4.8% | 14.3% | 56.3% | 1979 | $645 | 26.8% | 93.7% | 0.4% |
| Blanchard | 2.14 | 48.5 | 11.3% | 14.8% | 55.3% | 1979 | $907 | 19.7% | 85.5% | 4.6% |
| Bingham | 2.05 | 55.3 | 8.1% | 12.6% | 30.3% | 1974 | $656 | 14.7% | 92.6% | 4.8% |
| Jackman | 1.90 | 51.0 | 9.2% | 9.5% | 41.7% | 1970 | $550 | 29.4% | 96.0% | 3.0% |
| Monson | 2.08 | 47.6 | 12.4% | 16.9% | 50.8% | 1977 | $860 | 18.2% | 83.1% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Stephan, SD · Johnsons Grove, TN · Johnsontown, MD · Johnstown, ND · South Schroon, NY · Spain, SD · Spring Garden, AL · St. Clairsville, PA · Stambaugh, MI · Star Lake, WI
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 West Forks. 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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