Skowhegan
RANK #241 / 996 NAT · POP 50,656
1YR FORECAST: +2.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +31%
Skowhegan, the county seat of Somerset County, Maine, is known for the Kennebec River flowing through its downtown and the annual Skowhegan State Fair, the oldest continuously running state fair in the U.S.. Located in west-central Maine, Somerset County is about a three-hour drive from Boston. The county is characterized by its mountains, forests, and waterways, including Flagstaff Lake and the Kennebec and Moose Rivers. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with opportunities for hiking, skiing, whitewater rafting, fishing, and snowmobiling, particularly in areas like the Moosehead Lake region and along the Kennebec River. Life in Somerset County often involves a connection to the outdoors and a sense of community. The county's economy has historically relied on logging, paper milling, and tourism. Recent economic developments include efforts to diversify the wood products industry and expand broadband infrastructure to support businesses and remote workers. Companies like New Balance have expanded their manufacturing presence in Skowhegan, and Maine Grains, a local grain processor, is also a notable employer. Several school districts serve the county, including RSU 54/MSAD 54 in Skowhegan and Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield.
Below national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.0x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 76/100, Somerset County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $53,527 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in ME.
By national standards, Somerset County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $150,500, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $849/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Somerset County are both close to flat — population +0.5% YoY and jobs +0.2%. Home values shifted +2.3% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.46% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Somerset County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.