The Town FilesRumford, Maine
Town in Oxford County · population 5,858 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $127,700
- Household income
- $38,403
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 88 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 50.4
Rumford is a town of 5,858 people in Oxford County, Maine. The median home is worth $127,700, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks easier by car than 90% of Maine towns, more walkable than 81% of Maine towns, more vibrant than 80% of Maine towns.
How Rumford 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 Rumford is worth $127,700, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $38,403, which is more affordable than 56% of Maine towns. Median rent is $803 a month. 63.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rumford | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,700 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $803 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $38,403 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 63.1% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.9% | — |
Who lives in Rumford
| People | Rumford | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.4 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.2% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.1% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.6% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.2% | 90.0% |
Weather in Rumford
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 6.8°F. About 48.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 87.9 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rumford since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 17, 2001 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 29, 2013.
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 Rumford itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Rumford
2 public schools with 663 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Valley High School | 9-12 | 422 | 13.2 |
| Rumford Elementary | PK-4 | 241 | 10.0 |
Towns near Rumford
- Rumford, ME3.4 mi · 4,298 people · home $123,200
- Mexico, ME6.4 mi · 2,756 people · home $110,800
- Bethel, ME10.1 mi · 2,504 people · home $344,900
- Wilton, ME19.1 mi · 3,835 people · home $202,000
- Jay, ME21.0 mi · 4,620 people · home $168,600
- Paris, ME22.6 mi · 5,179 people · home $240,400
- Norway, ME22.9 mi · 2,696 people · home $162,000
- Norway, ME23.1 mi · 5,077 people · home $215,800
Rumford questions
Is Rumford, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rumford scores better for retirees than 24% of Maine towns and quieter than 36%. 27.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.4).
How much does a house cost in Rumford?
The median owner-occupied home in Rumford is valued at $127,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,403, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $803 a month.
What is the weather like in Rumford?
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 6.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.9 inches of precipitation a year and 87.9 inches of snow.
Does Rumford get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rumford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 17, 2001. 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)