The Town FilesPembroke, Maine
Town in Washington County · population 788 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,800
- Household income
- $60,132
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 49.6
Pembroke is a town of 788 people in Washington County, Maine. The median home is worth $142,800, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Maine towns, better for families than 81% of Maine towns, better for a vacation home than 81% of Maine towns.
- #3 in The 18 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Maine With Mild Winters
- #10 in The 22 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in Maine
- #15 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Maine
- #16 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Maine
- #22 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Maine
How Pembroke 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 Pembroke is worth $142,800, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $60,132, which is more affordable than 87% of Maine towns. Median rent is $881 a month. 86.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pembroke | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,800 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $881 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $60,132 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 86.5% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 16.5% | — |
Who lives in Pembroke
| People | Pembroke | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.5% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.0% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 34.7 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 90.0% |
Weather in Pembroke
July highs average 74.9°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.8 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Pembroke since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 18, 2006.
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 Pembroke itself the ACS puts it at 9.5%.
Public schools in Pembroke
1 public school with 63 students, about 7.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pembroke Elementary School | PK-8 | 63 | 7.0 |
Towns near Pembroke
- Perry, ME4.9 mi · 802 people · home $196,400
- Eastport, ME6.2 mi · 1,288 people · home $179,800
- Lubec, ME9.2 mi · 1,237 people · home $188,700
- Robbinston, ME10.4 mi · 539 people · home $228,000
- Calais, ME16.1 mi · 3,079 people · home $111,100
- East Machias, ME16.9 mi · 1,326 people · home $210,800
- Cutler, ME19.0 mi · 524 people · home $155,900
- Marshfield, ME20.2 mi · 528 people · home $191,900
Pembroke questions
Is Pembroke, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pembroke scores better for retirees than 72% of Maine towns and quieter than 71%. 32.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in Pembroke?
The median owner-occupied home in Pembroke is valued at $142,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,132, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $881 a month.
What is the weather like in Pembroke?
July highs average 74.9°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.6 inches of precipitation a year and 61.8 inches of snow.
Does Pembroke get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Pembroke 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)