Oxford County, Maine

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.9 | 59,905 people · 6th most distressed in Maine
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Oxford County, ME falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.9 — 1718th 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 6th of 16 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Oxford County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 75.3 — worse than roughly 75% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 75.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 82
Rent-to-Income Ratio 84
Business Formation Rate 69
House Price Change (YoY) 27
Structural Poverty 63.8
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 58
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 58
Disability Rate 67
Transfer Income Dependency 75
Housing Cost Burden 58.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 84
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 16
Consumer Credit Distress 39.3
Debt in Collections 51
Medical Debt 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 27
Credit Card Delinquency 23
Uninsured Rate 54
Subprime Credit Population 39
Legal Distress 7.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Oxford County
Oxford County, ME 47.9 Normal —
Androscoggin County, ME 55.0 Elevated +7.1
Coos County, NH 49.4 Normal +1.5
Franklin County, ME 39.2 Normal -8.8
York County, ME 33.8 Healthy -14.1
Cumberland County, ME 32.6 Healthy -15.3
Carroll County, NH 32.3 Healthy -15.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Oxford County
Washington County, OH 47.9 Normal -0.0
Yavapai County, AZ 47.9 Normal -0.0
Douglas County, KS 47.8 Normal -0.1
Columbia County, GA 48.0 Normal +0.1
Kenton County, KY 48.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Oxford County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Oxford County.

COMMUNITY CONCEPTS, INC. ALSO DBA HOMEQUESTMAINE
South Paris
207-333-6419 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

See all counselors in Maine →

Find an Attorney

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

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Oxford 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 Oxford County, Maine?

    Oxford County has a County Distress Index score of 47.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,718th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in Maine out of 16 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Oxford County?

    The primary driver of distress in Oxford County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 75.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Oxford County compare to neighboring counties?

    Oxford County (47.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Androscoggin County, ME (55.0); Coos County, NH (49.4); Franklin County, ME (39.2).

  • 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 Normal 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). Oxford County's score of 47.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Oxford 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 Oxford County?

    Oxford County, Maine has a population of approximately 59,905 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.