The Town FilesFort Fairfield, Maine
Town in Aroostook County · population 3,322 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,000
- Household income
- $70,852
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 108 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 49.7
Fort Fairfield is a town of 3,322 people in Aroostook County, Maine. The median home is worth $161,000, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Maine towns, quieter than 88% of Maine towns, better for a vacation home than 76% of Maine towns.
- #8 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Maine
- #9 in The 10 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Maine
- #10 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Maine
- #18 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #18 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
- #21 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Maine
How Fort Fairfield ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fort Fairfield is worth $161,000, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $70,852, which is more affordable than 89% of Maine towns. Median rent is $945 a month. 78.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Fairfield | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,000 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $945 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $70,852 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 78.2% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.3% | — |
Who lives in Fort Fairfield
| People | Fort Fairfield | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.9% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.0% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 90.0% |
Weather in Fort Fairfield
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 2.6°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 107.7 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Fairfield since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 31, 2009 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 15, 1958.
Severe weather in Aroostook County since 1996
Aroostook County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4522: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3444: Covid-19 |
| February 1, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1953: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 9, 2008 | Flood | DR-1755: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Aroostook County
Aroostook County had 25,999 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,148 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Fort Fairfield itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Public schools in Fort Fairfield
2 public schools with 473 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Fairfield Middle/High School | 6-12 | 268 | 11.7 |
| Fort Fairfield Elementary School | PK-5 | 205 | 9.3 |
Towns near Fort Fairfield
- Caribou, ME5.5 mi · 7,396 people · home $134,100
- Presque Isle, ME8.8 mi · 8,797 people · home $147,200
Fort Fairfield questions
Is Fort Fairfield, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Fairfield scores better for retirees than 62% of Maine towns and quieter than 88%. 30.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.7).
How much does a house cost in Fort Fairfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Fairfield is valued at $161,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,852, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $945 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Fairfield?
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 2.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 107.7 inches of snow.
Does Fort Fairfield get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Fairfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 31, 2009. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)