The Town FilesNorway, Maine
Town in Oxford County · population 5,077 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $215,800
- Household income
- $54,342
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 49.5
Norway is a town of 5,077 people in Oxford County, Maine. The median home is worth $215,800, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks hipper than 85% of Maine towns, more vibrant than 83% of Maine towns, better transit than 79% of Maine towns.
How Norway 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 Norway is worth $215,800, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $54,342, which is more affordable than 32% of Maine towns. Median rent is $770 a month. 70.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norway | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,800 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $770 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $54,342 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 70.5% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.9% | — |
Who lives in Norway
| People | Norway | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.1% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.4% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.9% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 14.2% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 34.3 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 90.0% |
Weather in Norway
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 76.1 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
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norway since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 5, 2010 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 1, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 5, 2010.
Severe weather in Oxford County since 1996
Oxford County has been included in 37 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 |
| September 6, 2023 | Flood | DR-4737: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 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 Oxford County
Oxford County had 17,009 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,809 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Norway itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Norway
1 public school with 414 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guy E Rowe School | PK-6 | 414 | 12.9 |
Towns near Norway
- Norway, ME2.3 mi · 2,696 people · home $162,000
- Paris, ME6.1 mi · 5,179 people · home $240,400
- Oxford, ME8.8 mi · 4,229 people · home $194,200
- Mechanic Falls, ME13.2 mi · 3,107 people · home $270,900
- Bridgton, ME14.0 mi · 5,418 people · home $316,600
- Minot, ME14.9 mi · 2,766 people · home $294,900
- Poland, ME16.3 mi · 5,906 people · home $283,600
- Bethel, ME16.6 mi · 2,504 people · home $344,900
Norway questions
Is Norway, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norway scores better for retirees than 53% of Maine towns and quieter than 31%. 27.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.5).
How much does a house cost in Norway?
The median owner-occupied home in Norway is valued at $215,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,342, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $770 a month.
What is the weather like in Norway?
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 76.1 inches of snow.
Does Norway get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norway since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 5, 2010. 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)