The Town FilesVan Buren, Maine
Town in Aroostook County · population 2,038 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,700
- Household income
- $40,170
- Jan low / Jul high
- -4° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 97 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 56.0
Van Buren is a town of 2,038 people in Aroostook County, Maine. The median home is worth $97,700, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks easier by car than 73% of Maine towns.
How Van Buren 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 Van Buren is worth $97,700, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $40,170, which is more affordable than 87% of Maine towns. Median rent is $733 a month. 64.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Van Buren | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,700 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $733 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $40,170 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 64.2% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Van Buren
| People | Van Buren | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.0 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.3% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.1% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.0% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 14.8 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.5% | 90.0% |
Weather in Van Buren
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows -4.3°F. About 41.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 96.7 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 193 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Van Buren since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 15, 2007 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 4, 2007.
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 Van Buren itself the ACS puts it at 0.3%.
Public schools in Van Buren
3 public schools with 260 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren Elementary School | PK-8 | 206 | 14.7 |
| Van Buren District Secondary Sch | 9-12 | 54 | 6.8 |
| Van Buren Regional Technology Ctr | Other | — | — |
Towns near Van Buren
- Van Buren, ME2.9 mi · 1,809 people · home $97,900
- Madawaska, ME13.8 mi · 3,867 people · home $156,300
- New Sweden, ME15.0 mi · 577 people · home $164,700
- St. Agatha, ME15.0 mi · 730 people · home $187,500
- Madawaska, ME18.9 mi · 2,797 people · home $158,300
- Frenchville, ME19.4 mi · 1,052 people · home $137,300
- Limestone, ME20.1 mi · 1,526 people · home $98,400
- Limestone, ME20.4 mi · 874 people · home $97,100
Van Buren questions
Is Van Buren, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Van Buren scores better for retirees than 69% of Maine towns and quieter than 53%. 35.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.0).
How much does a house cost in Van Buren?
The median owner-occupied home in Van Buren is valued at $97,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,170, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $733 a month.
What is the weather like in Van Buren?
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows -4.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.5 inches of precipitation a year and 96.7 inches of snow.
Does Van Buren get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Van Buren since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on July 15, 2007. 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)