Maine's population of 1,387,817 is heavily concentrated in the south, creating a stark contrast between the dense urban corridors around Portland and the vast, sparsely settled north. While the statewide average density sits near 45 people per square mile, this figure masks extreme variations where some counties exceed 369 residents per square mile while others fall below five.
Urban Clusters and County Totals
The data reveals that Portland dominates as the largest census place with 68,854 residents, anchoring a continuous high-density corridor that extends through South Portland, Westbrook, Saco, Biddeford, and Sanford. This southern concentration is mirrored in county totals, where Cumberland leads with 308,827 residents and York follows closely with 216,731. However, population size does not always equal density; while Androscoggin ranks third in total population behind Penobscot and Kennebec, it holds the second-highest density at approximately 242 people per square mile due to its compact urban footprint around Lewiston and Auburn. Conversely, Aroostook contains over 67,000 residents but covers a massive geographic area, resulting in a very low density of roughly 10.1 people per square mile.
The North-South Gradient
Moving northward and inland, the population pattern shifts dramatically toward sparseness. Counties such as Piscataquis, with only 17,263 residents, average less than five people per square mile, while Washington and Somerset hover around 12 to 13 residents per square mile. The 2010–2020 growth period further highlighted this divide, favoring southern expansion while Aroostook and Washington recorded the largest population declines. Understanding Maine requires distinguishing between total resident counts shown in major city maps and actual density represented by color-coded census tracts, which show that even within large counties like Aroostook, small local clusters exist alongside vast empty spaces.
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