New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Maine was the most rural state in 2010, with 61.3% of its population living in rural areas – the highest rate in the country.
The Census Bureau deems areas with at least 2,500 people as urban clusters, and areas with fewer than 2,500 people rural, according to the Bangor Daily News. In the 2010 census, Maine beat out Vermont, where 61.1% of residents live in rural areas, as the most rural state. Between 2000 and 2010, the number of Mainers living in rural areas increased from 59.8% to 61.3%, going against the national trend.
Maine's most rural counties are Piscataquis and Lincoln, where 100% of the population is considered to be in a rural area. Maine has three urbanized areas – Portland, Bangor and Lewiston – which have more than 50,000 people.
Maine's rural residents
| Total county population, 2010 | % pop. in rural areas | |
| Lincoln | 34,457 | 100% |
| Piscataquis | 17,535 | 100% |
| Washington | 32,856 | 92.4% |
| Waldo | 38,786 | 91.3% |
| Hanco*ck | 54,418 | 90.1% |
| Oxford | 57,833 | 83.1% |
| Franklin | 30,768 | 83.0% |
| Somerset | 52,228 | 80.5% |
| Aroostook | 71,870 | 80.3% |
| Knox | 39,736 | 67.9% |
| Kennebec | 122,151 | 62.8% |
| Sagadahoc | 35,293 | 61.7% |
| Penobscot | 153,923 | 57.7% |
| York | 197,131 | 56.8% |
| Androscoggin | 107,702 | 43.4% |
| Cumberland | 281,674 | 36.1% |
| MAINE | 1,328,361 | 61.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
