C+

Litchfield, ME

Source:

Affordability Score: 61/100

Population: 3,577 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Litchfield, ME aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 3,577 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (61/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $84,904, median home value of $243,900, median rent of $1,173 per month, and 25.4% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,416 per month (studio $1,082, 1BR $1,090, 3BR $1,819, 4BR $2,158). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $11,960 per year, consuming 14% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Litchfield, ME include rent. Pressure points are commute. Unemployment currently reads 2.2% and poverty 4.3% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B
$84,904
Median household income
Education D
25.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B
2.9x
Home value $243,900 vs income
Commute F
32 min
Average commute time
Rent B+
$1,416/mo
2BR fair market rent (20% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C-
$11,960/yr
Center-based infant care (14% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$84,904
▲ 37% vs national
Per Capita Income
$39,454
Unemployment Rate
2.2%
Poverty Rate
4.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
$243,900
▼ 11% vs national
Median Rent
$1,173/mo
Owner Occupied
96.7%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,416/mo
▲ 18% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,082
1BR
$1,090
2BR
$1,416
3BR
$1,819
4BR
$2,158

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
25.4%
▼ 5 ppt vs national
High School+
69.6%
Median Age
46.4
Avg. Commute
32 min
▲ 6 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$11,960/yr
14% of income
Toddler (Center)
$10,487/yr
Preschool (Center)
$11,050/yr
School-Age (Center)
$6,673/yr

What This Means

Litchfield, ME receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (61/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 3,577. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include commute. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Litchfield, ME affordable?
Litchfield, ME receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (61/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $84,904. Median home value is $243,900.
What is the cost of living in Litchfield?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,173/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,416/mo. Infant childcare $11,960/yr. Median home value $243,900.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →