Knox County, Maine: commercial real estate data.
Knox County, Maine had an estimated 40,981 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 40,611, across 365 square miles. County output reached $2.63 bn in 2024, 1,823 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 71 7(a) approvals worth $28.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Knox County
How many people live in Knox County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202441,003
- Households18,484
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$74,096
- Median age49.5
- Median gross rent$1,165 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$324,900
- Home value to household income4.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher39.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree15.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over31,595
- Population under 186,902
- Share under 1816.8 percent
- Population 65 and over11,459
- Share 65 and over27.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6422,642
- Civilian labor force20,387
- Unemployment rate3.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over59.8 percent
- Rank by population among Maine counties10th of 16
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1186th of 3,222
Knox County is the 10th largest of 16 Maine counties by population. A median home costs 4.4 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 27.9 percent against 16.8 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.
Knox County
Is Knox County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202440,981
- Census 2020 base population40,611
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.91 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-63
- Births, 2024276
- Deaths, 2024534
- Natural change, 2024-258
- Net domestic migration, 2024164
- Net international migration, 202433
- Total net migration, 2024197
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,218
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1512th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.91 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Knox County
Where are people moving to Knox County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,120
- People arriving, from those returns1,794
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,089
- Net household movement31
- Adjusted gross income arriving$96.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$14.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$86,153
- Average income of a leaving household$75,590
- Largest single originLincoln County (89 households)
- Largest single destinationWaldo County (138 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | 89 | 171 | $4.1 m |
| Cumberland County | 79 | 111 | $7.3 m |
| Waldo County | 74 | 121 | $5.1 m |
| Kennebec County | 50 | 72 | $2.7 m |
| Penobscot County | 30 | 39 | $1.6 m |
| York County | 25 | 36 | $1.6 m |
| Middlesex County | 25 | 41 | $3.4 m |
Households arriving report $10,563 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Lincoln 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.
Knox County
What is the Knox County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.63 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.54 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.8 percent
- GDP change over five years31.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Maine areas BEA publishes9th of 16
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1076th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$64,206
Output grew 3.8 percent in the latest year and 31.9 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.
Knox County
Employment by industry in Knox County
- Covered employment, annual average16,874
- Establishments reporting2,289
- Average annual pay$55,720
- Average weekly wage$1,072
- Retail trade, employment2,820
- Retail trade, average annual pay$39,043
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,529
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$70,584
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,883
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$32,897
- Manufacturing, employment1,464
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$61,185
- Other services, except public administration, employment692
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment568
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,820 | 234 | $39,043 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,529 | 170 | $70,584 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,883 | 172 | $32,897 |
| Manufacturing | 1,464 | 92 | $61,185 |
| Other services, except public administration | 692 | 159 | $44,477 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 568 | 114 | $50,075 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 553 | 331 | $89,706 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 433 | 50 | $53,233 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,820 jobs, 16.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Knox County
How many businesses are in Knox County?
- Establishments, all industries1,823
- Employment at those establishments14,502
- Annual payroll$763.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents44.5
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.
Knox County
Building permits in Knox County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024166
- Declared construction value permitted$43.2 m
- Single family units authorized106
- Multifamily units authorized60
- Multifamily share of units36.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$260,367
- Units authorized per 1,000 households9.0
Single-family homes are 63.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Knox County
SBA loans in Knox County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded71
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$28.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$395,754
- Median 7(a) approval$120,000
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$800,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)533
- Jobs per approval7.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active21
- Distinct industries receiving approvals41
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms10
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter58
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals2.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (6)
- Most active lenderTD Bank, National Association (17)
- 504 approvals recorded27
- 504 gross approval dollars$16.3 m
- Average 504 approval$602,963
- Median 504 approval$257,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval4.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved7.9
- Most active CDCGranite State Economic Development Corporation (17)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$44.4 m
The average approval of $395,754 sits well above the median of $120,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 14.1 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.
Knox County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Knox County
Do SBA loans in Knox County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded11
- Paid in full10
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full10
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled8
- Status: Exempt from disclosure50
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 11 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.
Knox County
SBA lending by place in Knox County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending14
- Camden, approvals16
- Rockport, approvals15
- Rockland, approvals14
- Warren, approvals8
- South Thomaston, approvals3
- Appleton, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Camden | 16 | $8,345,500 |
| Rockport | 15 | $6,194,000 |
| Rockland | 14 | $9,740,300 |
| Warren | 8 | $710,000 |
| South Thomaston | 3 | $450,000 |
| Appleton | 3 | $342,500 |
| Union | 3 | $329,200 |
| West Rockport | 2 | $430,000 |
| 6 other borrower cities | 7 | $1,557,000 |
Camden accounts for 16 approvals against 15 in Rockport. 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.
Knox County
How large is Knox County?
- Land area365 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Maine counties15th of 16
- Width, east to west46.9 mi
- Height, north to south37.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land112
- Establishments per square mile4.99
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.
Knox County
Flood risk in Knox County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book76
- Of those, participating in the NFIP73
- NFIP participation rate96.1 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Knox County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Knox County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 96.1 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 Knox 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 Knox County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202441,003
- Households18,484
- Average household size2.22
- Median household income$74,096
- Median age49.5
Common questions
Knox County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Knox County, Maine?
The Census Bureau estimates 40,981 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 41,003, in 18,484 households, ranking 10th of 16 Maine counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Knox County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.91 percent since the 2020 census base of 40,611, to 40,981 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 276 births against 534 deaths, with net migration of 197. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Knox County?
$74,096. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $324,900, which is 4.4 times income, and median gross rent is $1,165 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Knox County?
1,823 establishments, employing 14,502 people with an annual payroll of $763.5 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Knox County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,820 jobs, 16.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 16,874 jobs at an average annual pay of $55,720, or $1,072 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Knox County?
71 7(a) approvals totaling $28.1 m since FY2020, across 21 lenders, with a median approval of $120,000, plus 27 504 approvals worth $16.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Knox County?
166 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $43.2 m. Multifamily was 36.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Knox County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 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 Knox County come from?
The largest single origin is Lincoln County, with 89 households. Arriving households report an average income of $86,153 against $75,590 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Knox 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 Knox 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.
Knox County
Cities and places in Knox.
3 Census places lie wholly or partly in Knox County. All 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockland | city | 7,035 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Camden | CDP | 3,682 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Thomaston | CDP | 2,055 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 40 of the county's 71 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Knox County, the largest being Rockport (15), Warren (8), South Thomaston (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.
Nearby