Maine has 16 counties. Cumberland County, home to Portland, has the most people (303,069 in the 2020 census), Aroostook County is the largest by area, and Piscataquis County has the fewest people (16,800). Below we list every county with its county seat, population and median home price, and link to our guides for the places inside it.
Maine Counties at a Glance
- Androscoggin County: county seat Auburn
- Aroostook County: county seat Houlton
- Cumberland County: county seat Portland
- Franklin County: county seat Farmington
- Hancock County: county seat Ellsworth
- Kennebec County: county seat Augusta
- Knox County: county seat Rockland
- Lincoln County: county seat Wiscasset
- Oxford County: county seat Paris
- Penobscot County: county seat Bangor
- Piscataquis County: county seat Dover-Foxcroft
- Sagadahoc County: county seat Bath
- Somerset County: county seat Skowhegan
- Waldo County: county seat Belfast
- Washington County: county seat Machias
- York County: county seat Alfred
Every Maine County in Detail
Populations are from the 2020 census. Home prices are the median sale price for an existing single-family home in the July to September 2026 quarter, with the change from the same quarter a year earlier. Many counties record only a few hundred sales a quarter, so treat a big swing as a reason to look closer, not as a trend.
Androscoggin County
- County seat: Auburn
- Population: 111,139 (5th of 16)
- Median home price: $345,000, down 2.82% (9th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Lewiston
Aroostook County
- County seat: Houlton
- Population: 67,105 (6th of 16)
- Median home price: $174,900, up 2.88% (lowest of the 16 counties)
- In our guides: Presque Isle, Aroostook County
Cumberland County
- County seat: Portland
- Population: 303,069 (1st of 16)
- Median home price: $614,950, up 1.64% (highest of the 16 counties)
- In our guides: Portland, Brunswick, Freeport
Franklin County
- County seat: Farmington
- Population: 29,456 (15th of 16)
- Median home price: $315,750, up 7.60% (11th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Rangeley
Hancock County
- County seat: Ellsworth
- Population: 55,478 (8th of 16)
- Median home price: $527,962, up 18.38% (4th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Bar Harbor, Ellsworth, Castine, Stonington
Kennebec County
- County seat: Augusta
- Population: 123,642 (4th of 16)
- Median home price: $355,000, up 4.41% (8th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Augusta, Waterville
Knox County
- County seat: Rockland
- Population: 40,607 (10th of 16)
- Median home price: $450,000, unchanged (6th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Camden, Rockland
Lincoln County
- County seat: Wiscasset
- Population: 35,237 (13th of 16)
- Median home price: $529,000, up 8.18% (3rd highest of 16)
- In our guides: Wiscasset, Damariscotta
Oxford County
- County seat: Paris
- Population: 57,777 (7th of 16)
- Median home price: $327,500, down 3.68% (10th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Bethel
Penobscot County
- County seat: Bangor
- Population: 152,199 (3rd of 16)
- Median home price: $290,000, up 0.69% (12th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Bangor
Piscataquis County
- County seat: Dover-Foxcroft
- Population: 16,800 (16th of 16)
- Median home price: $245,000, up 2.83% (15th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Greenville, Moosehead Lake
Sagadahoc County
- County seat: Bath
- Population: 36,699 (12th of 16)
- Median home price: $482,500, up 6.04% (5th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Popham Beach
Somerset County
- County seat: Skowhegan
- Population: 50,477 (9th of 16)
- Median home price: $259,000, up 5.44% (13th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Jackman
Waldo County
- County seat: Belfast
- Population: 39,607 (11th of 16)
- Median home price: $365,000, up 1.53% (7th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Belfast
Washington County
- County seat: Machias
- Population: 31,095 (14th of 16)
- Median home price: $246,000, down 5.38% (14th highest of 16)
- In our guides: Machias, Calais
York County
- County seat: Alfred
- Population: 211,972 (2nd of 16)
- Median home price: $566,500, up 3.00% (2nd highest of 16)
- In our guides: Biddeford, Saco, Ogunquit
Maine Counties FAQ
How many counties are in Maine?
Maine has 16 counties: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington and York.
What is the largest county in Maine?
Aroostook County is the largest by area. Cumberland County is the largest by population, with 303,069 people in the 2020 census, followed by York County (211,972) and Penobscot County (152,199).
What is the smallest county in Maine?
Piscataquis County has the fewest people, at 16,800 in the 2020 census. By area, Sagadahoc County is the smallest.
What are the county seats of Maine?
The county seats are Auburn (Androscoggin), Houlton (Aroostook), Portland (Cumberland), Farmington (Franklin), Ellsworth (Hancock), Augusta (Kennebec), Rockland (Knox), Wiscasset (Lincoln), Paris (Oxford), Bangor (Penobscot), Dover-Foxcroft (Piscataquis), Bath (Sagadahoc), Skowhegan (Somerset), Belfast (Waldo), Machias (Washington) and Alfred (York).
Which Maine county is the cheapest to buy a home in?
Aroostook County had the lowest median home price in the July to September 2026 quarter, at $174,900. Cumberland County was the highest, at $614,950. See our Maine housing market guide for the full picture and for monthly statewide figures.
What is the oldest county in Maine?
York County, established in 1652, according to Wikipedia’s list of Maine counties.
Looking at the north? Our Northern Maine guide covers Aroostook County and the North Woods. Weighing a move? See moving to Maine, the cheapest places to live in Maine and our list of Maine’s cities.
Our details come from the 2020 census, as compiled in Wikipedia’s list of Maine counties, and the Maine Association of REALTORS® Maine Real Estate Statistics (September 2026 housing report, released October 13, 2026).