The Town FilesHowland, Maine
Community in Penobscot County · population 947 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,100
- Household income
- $53,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 93 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 47.9
Howland is a community of 947 people in Penobscot County, Maine. The median home is worth $152,100, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better for families than 77% of Maine towns, easier by car than 71% of Maine towns, better transit than 70% of Maine towns.
How Howland 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 Howland is worth $152,100, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $53,250, which is more affordable than 71% of Maine towns. Median rent is $916 a month. 75.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Howland | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,100 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $916 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $53,250 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 75.9% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Howland
| People | Howland | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.2% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.9% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.0% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 90.0% |
Weather in Howland
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 3.4°F. About 44.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 92.5 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Howland since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on July 2, 2019.
Severe weather in Penobscot County since 1996
Penobscot County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| January 2, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4354: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Penobscot County
Penobscot County had 71,983 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,593 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Howland itself the ACS puts it at 11.3%.
Towns near Howland
- Howland, ME2.8 mi · 1,094 people · home $150,100
- Enfield, ME3.8 mi · 1,435 people · home $178,100
- Lincoln, ME10.0 mi · 2,667 people · home $142,100
- Lagrange, ME10.2 mi · 635 people · home $126,000
- Lincoln, ME12.1 mi · 4,853 people · home $141,500
- Chester, ME13.5 mi · 549 people · home $172,500
- Greenbush, ME14.0 mi · 1,444 people · home $131,000
- Milo, ME14.3 mi · 1,751 people · home $86,500
Howland questions
Is Howland, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Howland scores better for retirees than 17% of Maine towns and quieter than 67%. 23.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in Howland?
The median owner-occupied home in Howland is valued at $152,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,250, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $916 a month.
What is the weather like in Howland?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 3.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.3 inches of precipitation a year and 92.5 inches of snow.
Does Howland get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Howland in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)