The Town FilesWest Paris, Maine
Town in Oxford County · population 1,766 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,000
- Household income
- $56,324
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 46.0
West Paris is a town of 1,766 people in Oxford County, Maine. The median home is worth $193,000, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks more walkable than 71% of Maine towns.
How West 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 West Paris is worth $193,000, below the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $56,324, which is more affordable than 51% of Maine towns. Median rent is $838 a month. 80.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Paris | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,000 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | $838 | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $56,324 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 80.9% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.9% | — |
Who lives in West Paris
| People | West Paris | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.1% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 23.8% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 32.4 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.3% | 90.0% |
Weather in West Paris
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 76.1 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Paris since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 1, 2011 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 1, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 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 West Paris itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in West Paris
1 public school with 122 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes Gray School | PK-6 | 122 | 11.1 |
Towns near West Paris
- Paris, ME5.2 mi · 5,179 people · home $240,400
- Sumner, ME5.6 mi · 994 people · home $150,000
- Woodstock, ME5.9 mi · 1,352 people · home $219,600
- Norway, ME6.4 mi · 2,696 people · home $162,000
- Greenwood, ME6.8 mi · 774 people · home $228,700
- South Paris, ME7.0 mi · 2,183 people · home $219,700
- Norway, ME7.8 mi · 5,077 people · home $215,800
- Buckfield, ME8.7 mi · 1,983 people · home $227,700
West Paris questions
Is West Paris, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Paris scores better for retirees than 61% of Maine towns and quieter than 67%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in West Paris?
The median owner-occupied home in West Paris is valued at $193,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,324, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $838 a month.
What is the weather like in West Paris?
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 76.1 inches of snow.
Does West Paris get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Paris since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 1, 2011. 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)