Kennebec County, Maine: commercial real estate data.
Kennebec County, Maine had an estimated 128,461 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 124,513, across 868 square miles. County output reached $8.57 bn in 2024, 3,318 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 70 7(a) approvals worth $20.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Kennebec County
How many people live in Kennebec County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024126,808
- Households54,312
- Average household size2.33
- Median household income$69,077
- Median age43.7
- Median gross rent$992 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$238,200
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher31.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over91,526
- Population under 1823,739
- Share under 1818.7 percent
- Population 65 and over26,806
- Share 65 and over21.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6476,263
- Civilian labor force63,304
- Unemployment rate3.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.4 percent
- Rank by population among Maine counties4th of 16
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included515th of 3,222
Kennebec County is the 4th largest of 16 Maine counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 21.1 percent against 18.7 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Kennebec County
Is Kennebec County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024128,461
- Census 2020 base population124,513
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.17 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024525
- Births, 20241,077
- Deaths, 20241,551
- Natural change, 2024-474
- Net domestic migration, 2024631
- Net international migration, 2024368
- Total net migration, 2024999
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20244,706
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents834th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.17 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Kennebec County
Where are people moving to Kennebec County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving3,578
- People arriving, from those returns5,811
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,015
- Net household movement563
- Adjusted gross income arriving$208.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$10.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$58,367
- Average income of a leaving household$65,756
- Largest single originCumberland County (387 households)
- Largest single destinationSomerset County (428 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | 387 | 556 | $24.3 m |
| Somerset County | 379 | 635 | $17.6 m |
| Androscoggin County | 373 | 623 | $19.1 m |
| Penobscot County | 180 | 265 | $7.9 m |
| Sagadahoc County | 172 | 299 | $9.5 m |
| Lincoln County | 156 | 279 | $7.5 m |
| Franklin County | 106 | 174 | $4.7 m |
| York County | 92 | 145 | $5.0 m |
Households arriving report $7,389 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Cumberland County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Kennebec County
What is the Kennebec County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$8.57 bn
- County GDP, 2023$7.95 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.8 percent
- GDP change over five years36.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Maine areas BEA publishes4th of 16
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes500th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$67,576
Output grew 7.8 percent in the latest year and 36.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Kennebec County
Employment by industry in Kennebec County
- Covered employment, annual average62,487
- Establishments reporting4,431
- Average annual pay$60,846
- Average weekly wage$1,170
- Health care and social assistance, employment10,536
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$63,189
- Retail trade, employment8,548
- Retail trade, average annual pay$40,897
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,740
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$27,997
- Manufacturing, employment2,935
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$64,433
- Construction, employment2,851
- Educational services, employment2,251
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 10,536 | 484 | $63,189 |
| Retail trade | 8,548 | 527 | $40,897 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,740 | 300 | $27,997 |
| Manufacturing | 2,935 | 103 | $64,433 |
| Construction | 2,851 | 500 | $74,231 |
| Educational services | 2,251 | 58 | $61,720 |
| Other services, except public administration | 2,115 | 364 | $49,353 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,970 | 160 | $74,985 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 10,536 jobs, 16.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Kennebec County
How many businesses are in Kennebec County?
- Establishments, all industries3,318
- Employment at those establishments49,617
- Annual payroll$2.68 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Kennebec County
Building permits in Kennebec County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024480
- Declared construction value permitted$129.7 m
- Single family units authorized447
- Multifamily units authorized33
- Multifamily share of units6.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$270,288
- Units authorized per 1,000 households8.8
Single-family homes are 93.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Kennebec County
SBA loans in Kennebec County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded70
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$20.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$290,294
- Median 7(a) approval$100,000
- 10th percentile approval$24,500
- 90th percentile approval$657,800
- Largest single approval$2,500,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)468
- Jobs per approval6.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active23
- Distinct industries receiving approvals47
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer15.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms11
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter58
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals2.9 percent
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (18)
- 504 approvals recorded31
- 504 gross approval dollars$12.2 m
- Average 504 approval$392,871
- Median 504 approval$299,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval12.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved31.9
- Most active CDCGranite State Economic Development Corporation (26)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$32.5 m
The average approval of $290,294 sits well above the median of $100,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 15.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kennebec County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Kennebec County
Do SBA loans in Kennebec County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded9
- Paid in full8
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure50
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full8
- Status: Cancelled9
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 9 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kennebec County
SBA lending by place in Kennebec County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending22
- Augusta, approvals15
- Waterville, approvals14
- Oakland, approvals9
- Manchester, approvals4
- Chelsea, approvals4
- South China, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta | 15 | $6,547,800 |
| Waterville | 14 | $4,580,000 |
| Oakland | 9 | $2,663,000 |
| Manchester | 4 | $840,000 |
| Chelsea | 4 | $820,000 |
| South China | 3 | $225,000 |
| Litchfield | 2 | $603,000 |
| West Gardiner | 2 | $350,000 |
| 14 other borrower cities | 17 | $3,691,800 |
Augusta accounts for 15 approvals against 14 in Waterville. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kennebec County
How large is Kennebec County?
- Land area868 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Maine counties10th of 16
- Width, east to west36.4 mi
- Height, north to south40.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land146
- Establishments per square mile3.82
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Kennebec County
Flood risk in Kennebec County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book30
- Of those, participating in the NFIP30
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 10
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Kennebec County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The EPA places Kennebec County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 10, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Kennebec County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Kennebec County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024126,808
- Households54,312
- Average household size2.33
- Median household income$69,077
- Median age43.7
Common questions
Kennebec County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Kennebec County, Maine?
The Census Bureau estimates 128,461 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 126,808, in 54,312 households, ranking 4th of 16 Maine counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Kennebec County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.17 percent since the 2020 census base of 124,513, to 128,461 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,077 births against 1,551 deaths, with net migration of 999. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Kennebec County?
$69,077. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $238,200, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $992 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Kennebec County?
3,318 establishments, employing 49,617 people with an annual payroll of $2.68 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Kennebec County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 10,536 jobs, 16.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 62,487 jobs at an average annual pay of $60,846, or $1,170 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Kennebec County?
70 7(a) approvals totaling $20.3 m since FY2020, across 23 lenders, with a median approval of $100,000, plus 31 504 approvals worth $12.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Kennebec County?
480 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $129.7 m. Multifamily was 6.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Kennebec County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Kennebec County come from?
The largest single origin is Cumberland County, with 387 households. Arriving households report an average income of $58,367 against $65,756 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Kennebec County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Kennebec County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Kennebec County
Cities and places in Kennebec.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Kennebec County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | city | 19,077 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Waterville | city | 17,077 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Gardiner | city | 6,088 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Winslow | CDP | 5,873 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Winthrop | CDP | 3,108 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Oakland | CDP | 2,710 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Hallowell | city | 2,592 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Farmingdale | CDP | 2,064 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Randolph | CDP | 1,610 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Clinton | CDP | 1,381 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 29 of the county's 70 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Kennebec County, the largest being Manchester (4), Chelsea (4), South China (3). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
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