Lincoln County, Maine

County Distress Index: Healthy · 28.4 | 36,507 people · 16th most distressed in Maine
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Lincoln County, ME ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 28.4 — 2832nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Maine, it ranks 16th of 16 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lincoln County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 70.4 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 70.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 84
Rent-to-Income Ratio 64
Business Formation Rate 51
House Price Change (YoY) 58
Structural Poverty 30.6
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 19
Income vs. State Median 22
Child Poverty Rate 29
Disability Rate 52
Transfer Income Dependency 36
Consumer Credit Distress 26.1
Debt in Collections 30
Medical Debt 65
Auto Loan Delinquency 7
Credit Card Delinquency 16
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 14
Housing Cost Burden 23.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 21
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 16
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 84
Homeownership Rate 5
Legal Distress 1.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 1

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Lincoln County, ME 28.4 Healthy —
Waldo County, ME 46.1 Normal +17.7
Kennebec County, ME 45.8 Normal +17.5
Sagadahoc County, ME 36.4 Normal +8.0
Knox County, ME 34.0 Healthy +5.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Clark County, WI 28.4 Healthy +0.0
Goodhue County, MN 28.4 Healthy +0.0
Marion County, IA 28.3 Healthy -0.1
Colfax County, NE 28.5 Healthy +0.1
Madison County, IA 28.5 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Lincoln County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Lincoln County

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Maine State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Maine State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 207-622-7523

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Legal aid organizations serving Lincoln County residents at no cost.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance 207-774-8211

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Lincoln County, Maine?

    Lincoln County has a County Distress Index score of 28.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,832nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Maine out of 16 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lincoln County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lincoln County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 70.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Lincoln County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lincoln County (28.4) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Waldo County, ME (46.1); Kennebec County, ME (45.8); Sagadahoc County, ME (36.4).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Healthy zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Lincoln County's score of 28.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Lincoln County's CDI score?

    Lincoln County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Lincoln County?

    Lincoln County, Maine has a population of approximately 36,507 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.