The Town FilesPresque Isle, Maine
City in Aroostook County · population 8,797 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $147,200
- Household income
- $55,768
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 98 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 44.1
Presque Isle is a city of 8,797 people in Aroostook County, Maine. The median home is worth $147,200, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks hipper than 87% of Maine towns, more vibrant than 86% of Maine towns, better for young professionals than 76% of Maine towns.
How Presque Isle 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 Presque Isle is worth $147,200, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $55,768, which is more affordable than 80% of Maine towns. Median rent is $904 a month. 57.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Presque Isle | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,200 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $904 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $55,768 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 57.8% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Presque Isle
| People | Presque Isle | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 14.4 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 90.0% |
Weather in Presque Isle
July highs average 78.5°F and January lows 3.3°F. About 38.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 97.5 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Presque Isle since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 31, 2009 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 9, 2020.
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 Presque Isle itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Presque Isle
5 public schools with 1,449 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presque Isle High School | 9-12 | 464 | 13.6 |
| Pine Street Elementary School | PK-2 | 357 | 15.5 |
| Presque Isle Middle School | 6-8 | 353 | 13.1 |
| Eva Hoyt Zippel School | 3-5 | 275 | 16.2 |
| Presque Isle Reg Career & Tech Ctr | Other | — | — |
Towns near Presque Isle
- Fort Fairfield, ME8.8 mi · 3,322 people · home $161,000
- Caribou, ME10.6 mi · 7,396 people · home $134,100
Presque Isle questions
Is Presque Isle, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Presque Isle scores better for retirees than 29% of Maine towns and quieter than 9%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Presque Isle?
The median owner-occupied home in Presque Isle is valued at $147,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,768, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $904 a month.
What is the weather like in Presque Isle?
July highs average 78.5°F and January lows 3.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.0 inches of precipitation a year and 97.5 inches of snow.
Does Presque Isle get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Presque Isle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 31, 2009. 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)