The Town FilesIslesboro, Maine
Town in Waldo County · population 583 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,800
- Household income
- $88,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 57.0
Islesboro is a town of 583 people in Waldo County, Maine. The median home is worth $288,800, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Maine towns, better for families than 97% of Maine towns, better for retirees than 94% of Maine towns.
- #3 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Maine
- #11 in The 23 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Maine
- #16 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Maine
- #18 in The 18 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Maine With Mild Winters
- #22 in The 22 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in Maine
How Islesboro 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 Islesboro is worth $288,800, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $88,438, which is more affordable than 56% of Maine towns. Median rent is $938 a month. 91.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Islesboro | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,800 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $938 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $88,438 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 91.8% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 51.9% | — |
Who lives in Islesboro
| People | Islesboro | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.0 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.6% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 11.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.8% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 20.3% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 7.6 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 99.1% | 90.0% |
Weather in Islesboro
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.9 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 Islesboro since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 1, 1968 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 1, 1968.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 18, 1996.
Severe weather in Waldo County since 1996
Waldo County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| July 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4719: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 22, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4696: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Waldo County
Waldo County had 11,273 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,674 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Islesboro itself the ACS puts it at 14.3%.
Public schools in Islesboro
1 public school with 76 students, about 5.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islesboro Central School | K-12 | 76 | 5.4 |
Towns near Islesboro
- Deer Isle, ME7.1 mi · 2,194 people · home $308,300
- Northport, ME7.2 mi · 1,550 people · home $343,400
- Lincolnville, ME7.2 mi · 2,312 people · home $367,000
- Camden, ME7.3 mi · 5,232 people · home $520,600
- Camden, ME7.8 mi · 3,850 people · home $498,800
- Brooksville, ME10.2 mi · 935 people · home $390,900
- Rockport, ME10.5 mi · 3,644 people · home $469,000
- Castine, ME10.7 mi · 1,014 people · home $798,800
Islesboro questions
Is Islesboro, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Islesboro scores better for retirees than 94% of Maine towns and quieter than 94%. 40.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.0).
How much does a house cost in Islesboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Islesboro is valued at $288,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,438, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $938 a month.
What is the weather like in Islesboro?
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 68.9 inches of snow.
Does Islesboro get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Islesboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 1, 1968. 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)