The Town FilesNew Sweden, Maine
Town in Aroostook County · population 577 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,700
- Household income
- $58,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 118 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 50.5
New Sweden is a town of 577 people in Aroostook County, Maine. The median home is worth $164,700, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks quieter than 93% of Maine towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Maine towns, better for retirees than 71% of Maine towns.
How New Sweden 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 New Sweden is worth $164,700, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $58,333, which is more affordable than 74% of Maine towns. Median rent is $658 a month. 88.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Sweden | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,700 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $658 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $58,333 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 88.2% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in New Sweden
| People | New Sweden | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.5 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.8% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.4% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 16.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.4% | 90.0% |
Weather in New Sweden
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 118.2 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
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Sweden since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 15, 1958 about 5.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 18, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 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 New Sweden itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in New Sweden
1 public school with 31 students, about 7.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connor Consolidated School | PK-6 | 31 | 7.8 |
Towns near New Sweden
- Woodland, ME6.4 mi · 1,217 people · home $150,300
- Washburn, ME12.8 mi · 1,527 people · home $112,900
- Limestone, ME12.8 mi · 1,526 people · home $98,400
- Caribou, ME12.8 mi · 7,396 people · home $134,100
- Washburn, ME13.0 mi · 937 people · home $99,300
- Limestone, ME14.1 mi · 874 people · home $97,100
- Van Buren, ME15.0 mi · 2,038 people · home $97,700
- Van Buren, ME15.3 mi · 1,809 people · home $97,900
New Sweden questions
Is New Sweden, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Sweden scores better for retirees than 71% of Maine towns and quieter than 93%. 30.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.5).
How much does a house cost in New Sweden?
The median owner-occupied home in New Sweden is valued at $164,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,333, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $658 a month.
What is the weather like in New Sweden?
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 118.2 inches of snow.
Does New Sweden get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Sweden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 15, 1958. 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)