The Town FilesSouth Paris, Maine
Community in Oxford County · population 2,183 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $219,700
- Household income
- $55,074
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 48.3
South Paris is a community of 2,183 people in Oxford County, Maine. The median home is worth $219,700, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks more vibrant than 84% of Maine towns.
How South Paris 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 South Paris is worth $219,700, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $55,074, which is more affordable than 32% of Maine towns. Median rent is $528 a month. 51.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Paris | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $219,700 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $528 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $55,074 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 51.9% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.5% | — |
Who lives in South Paris
| People | South Paris | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.6% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.5% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 21.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 13.8 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 68.3% | 90.0% |
Weather in South Paris
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 10.3°F. About 48.1 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 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Paris since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 5, 2010 about 2.6 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 13 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on August 13, 1958.
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 South Paris itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in South Paris
1 public school with — students.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford Hills Tech - Region 11 | Other | — | — |
Towns near South Paris
- Paris, ME2.4 mi · 5,179 people · home $240,400
- Norway, ME2.7 mi · 2,696 people · home $162,000
- Norway, ME4.8 mi · 5,077 people · home $215,800
- Oxford, ME5.1 mi · 1,294 people · home $183,400
- Oxford, ME5.4 mi · 4,229 people · home $194,200
- Hebron, ME6.2 mi · 1,223 people · home $242,300
- West Paris, ME7.0 mi · 1,766 people · home $193,000
- Buckfield, ME7.8 mi · 1,983 people · home $227,700
South Paris questions
Is South Paris, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Paris scores better for retirees than 66% of Maine towns and quieter than 37%. 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.3).
How much does a house cost in South Paris?
The median owner-occupied home in South Paris is valued at $219,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,074, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $528 a month.
What is the weather like in South Paris?
July highs average 78.7°F and January lows 10.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 76.1 inches of snow.
Does South Paris get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Paris 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)