Unemployment in Androscoggin County, Maine, is lower than in 73% of U.S. counties
In Androscoggin County, 3.4% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 73% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 52% of U.S. counties.
What drives Androscoggin County's score
In Androscoggin County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 86.6. Jobs are the lowest part, at 31.1.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Androscoggin County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Androscoggin County is worse off than most counties on rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (29.3%, fiscal year 2027) and renters paying half their income or more in rent (22.9%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 86.6 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent22.9% · 2020 to 202477th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income29.3% · fiscal year 202795th percentile
-
- 48.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.1% · August 202561st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.6% · August 202541st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score38.4% · second quarter of 202643rd percentile
-
- 44.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.0% · 202440th percentile
- Children below the poverty line15.8% · 202443rd percentile
- People with a disability17.5% · 2020 to 202463rd percentile
- People without health insurance5.9% · 2020 to 202430th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$68,642 · 202444th percentile
-
- 32.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.8% · August 202556th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people44.8 · 20257th percentile
-
- 31.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202626th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.5% · 2020 to 202436th percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Androscoggin County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Androscoggin County, 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Androscoggin County
Maine
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Androscoggin County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 26.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Androscoggin County, Maine, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 26.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Androscoggin County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 18.8% in 2012 to 20.9% in 2013.
The share of households in Androscoggin County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 15.5% in 2022. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Androscoggin County, Maine.
How Androscoggin County has changed
Androscoggin County's population rose by about a quarter to 115,272, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1984 to 1989, reaching 105,276. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Androscoggin County, Maine.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Androscoggin County rose 17% from 1990 to 2025, with most of the change between 1995 and 2000
High on the chart: 48,824 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Androscoggin County, Maine.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.8% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.9% | 2024 12.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,265 | 2024 $68,642 |
The table uses 3.5% for 2025; the score uses 3.4% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Androscoggin County's history
1957
Shoe manufacturing industry decline. Wikipedia
1988
A tornado in July 1988 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2007
A flood in April 2007 did $1.3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
A flash flood in August 2008 did $1.2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 111,139, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2023
A flood in May 2023 did $1,385,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1970
31 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Androscoggin County, 18 of them for flooding. FEMA
Androscoggin County beside its neighbors
Androscoggin County scores higher than all five counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Androscoggin County ranks 3rd of the six; Oxford County is highest, at 32.5%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Androscoggin County, ME | 47 | 12.0% | 26.9% |
| Oxford County, ME | 45 | 11.3% | 32.5% |
| Franklin County, ME | 34 | 13.3% | 31.1% |
| Kennebec County, ME | 28 | 11.2% | 25.5% |
| Sagadahoc County, ME | 11 | 7.8% | 21.3% |
| Cumberland County, ME | 8 | 8.0% | 15.4% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Androscoggin County the poorest county in Maine?
No, Androscoggin County's poverty rate was 12.0% in 2024, 7th highest of 16 in Maine (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Washington County, at 16.2%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Androscoggin County ranks 5th of 16 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Androscoggin County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
Pine Tree Legal Assistance
Legal aid
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Androscoggin County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Androscoggin County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.