The Town FilesEast Machias, Maine
Town in Washington County · population 1,326 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $210,800
- Household income
- $57,589
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 75 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 42.8
East Machias is a town of 1,326 people in Washington County, Maine. The median home is worth $210,800, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks more of a college town than 87% of Maine towns, more seaside character than 83% of Maine towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Maine towns.
How East Machias 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 East Machias is worth $210,800, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $57,589, which is more affordable than 43% of Maine towns. Median rent is $907 a month. 83.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | East Machias | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,800 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $907 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $57,589 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 83.7% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.3% | — |
Who lives in East Machias
| People | East Machias | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.9% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 14.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 90.0% |
Weather in East Machias
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 9.4°F. About 50.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.9 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of East Machias since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 15, 1961 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 15, 1961.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4764: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| January 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4754: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 10,211 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,219 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in East Machias itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in East Machias
1 public school with 194 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elm Street School-East Machias | PK-8 | 194 | 12.9 |
Towns near East Machias
- Marshfield, ME3.4 mi · 528 people · home $191,900
- Machias, ME5.7 mi · 2,060 people · home $141,300
- Machias, ME6.0 mi · 1,457 people · home $136,300
- Machiasport, ME10.3 mi · 962 people · home $177,100
- Jonesboro, ME11.6 mi · 579 people · home $151,400
- Cutler, ME12.9 mi · 524 people · home $155,900
- Jonesport, ME15.2 mi · 1,245 people · home $142,000
- Pembroke, ME16.9 mi · 788 people · home $142,800
East Machias questions
Is East Machias, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, East Machias scores better for retirees than 52% of Maine towns and quieter than 25%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in East Machias?
The median owner-occupied home in East Machias is valued at $210,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,589, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $907 a month.
What is the weather like in East Machias?
July highs average 76.4°F and January lows 9.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 74.9 inches of snow.
Does East Machias get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of East Machias since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 15, 1961. 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)