April 28, 2026

Veterans and Social Trends Across Maine Counties

By Adelle Wood · 2 minute read

In Washington County, Maine, 9.9% of the population are veterans, the highest share of any county in the state. Compare that to Cumberland County, Maine, where just 5.5% of residents have served. That 4.4% gap tells the story of how unevenly military service, community stability, and social infrastructure are distributed across Maine's 16 counties.

Veteran Population by County

Statewide, the average veteran share is 7.7%. Counties with military bases or proximity to defense installations tend to cluster at the top of this ranking, while urban and younger-skewing counties fall toward the bottom.

Counties with the highest veteran concentrations:

Washington County, Maine: 9.9% veterans
Lincoln County, Maine: 9.1% veterans
Somerset County, Maine: 9.0% veterans
Sagadahoc County, Maine: 9.0% veterans
Piscataquis County, Maine: 8.7% veterans

Counties with the lowest veteran concentrations:

Cumberland County, Maine: 5.5% veterans
Waldo County, Maine: 6.5% veterans
Penobscot County, Maine: 6.8% veterans
Hancock County, Maine: 6.9% veterans
Androscoggin County, Maine: 7.0% veterans

Broadband Access and Digital Connectivity

Broadband access shapes how veterans and other residents navigate services, telehealth, and remote work. Across Maine, the county average for broadband subscription stands at 87.4%. The range between best and worst-connected counties is striking.

Best-connected counties by broadband subscription rate:

Sagadahoc County, Maine: 92.6% of households
Cumberland County, Maine: 91.5% of households
York County, Maine: 91.3% of households
Knox County, Maine: 89.9% of households
Kennebec County, Maine: 89.8% of households

Least-connected counties:

Aroostook County, Maine: 80.1% of households
Washington County, Maine: 82.7% of households
Piscataquis County, Maine: 83.6% of households
Franklin County, Maine: 84.0% of households
Somerset County, Maine: 85.3% of households

Community Stability and Residential Patterns

The share of residents living in the same home as the previous year signals how rooted communities are. High stability often correlates with aging populations and limited economic mobility, while lower rates can reflect growth, churn, or military-related relocation. Statewide, the average residential stability rate is 89.0%.

Most stable communities (highest same-house rate):

Most transient communities (lowest same-house rate):

Language Diversity and Foreign-Born Residents

Non-English language use and foreign-born populations round out the social portrait of Maine's counties. The county average for non-English home language is 5.0%, reflecting the state's overall demographic mix. Counties with higher concentrations of immigrants often show distinct patterns in disability rates, broadband access, and labor force participation.

Disability Rates

Among residents under 65, the statewide average disability rate is 12.4%. This figure is relevant to veterans' services and community health infrastructure alike. Counties at the higher end of this range often have elevated veteran populations or older median ages, reflecting the cumulative toll of service and manual labor.

The data from Maine illustrates how social characteristics, from veteran status to broadband access to residential stability, cluster unevenly across county lines. Understanding these patterns at the county level is essential for targeting services, planning infrastructure, and allocating resources where they are most needed.

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates