What are the schools like in Caribou, ME?

Caribou is served primarily by RSU 39. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1.

What is the median household income in Caribou?

The median household income in Caribou, ME is $47,803 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.0%.

What is the weather like in Caribou, ME?

Caribou has an average high temperature of 20.8°F in January and 77.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 118.2 inches.

Caribou, ME Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Caribou, ME affordable or expensive?

Caribou's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Caribou is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $116,800 and the median rent is $636 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Caribou, ME?

Caribou has a violent crime rate of 68.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 598.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Caribou, ME a Good Place to Live?

Caribou is a small town of 7,454 in Maine, with a median household income of $47,803 and a 2.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Caribou stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Caribou is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Caribou city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.1

Caribou's overall cost of living index is 90.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Caribou costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Caribou, ME	National Avg
Median Home Value	$116,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$636	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$47,803	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Caribou's violent crime rate is 68.0 per 100,000 residents — 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

68.0 /100k

Property Crime

598.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Caribou is served primarily by RSU 39. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Caribou, ME	National Avg
School District	RSU 39	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Caribou sees average highs of 20.8°F in January and 77.1°F in July, with 40.7 inches of annual precipitation and 118.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Caribou, ME
Average High — January	20.8°F
Average High — July	77.1°F
Annual Precipitation	40.7"
Annual Snowfall	118.2"

Demographics

Metric	Caribou, ME	National Avg
Population	7,454	—
Median Age	52.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	15.3%	22.2%
65 and over	26.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Fort Fairfield, ME 7 mi Limestone, ME 7 mi Washburn, ME 10 mi Presque Isle, ME 11 mi Mapleton, ME 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Caribou

Caribou, ME is covered by 1 ZIP code:

04736

Caribou vs Other Cities

Caribou, ME vs Fort Fairfield, ME Caribou, ME vs Limestone, ME Caribou, ME vs Washburn, ME Caribou, ME vs Presque Isle, ME Caribou, ME vs Mapleton, ME

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Caribou, ME affordable or expensive?

Caribou's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Caribou roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $116,800 and median rent is $636/month.

What is the crime rate in Caribou, ME?

Caribou's violent crime rate is 68.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 598.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Caribou?

Public schools in Caribou are operated by RSU 39. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 26.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Caribou, ME a good place to live?

Caribou, ME has a population of 7,454, a median household income of $47,803, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Caribou?

Caribou averages 20.8°F in January and 77.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.7 inches with about 118.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Caribou?

Caribou, ME is covered by 1 ZIP code: 04736.

What is the population of Caribou?

The population of Caribou, Maine is 7,454 with a median age of 52.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Caribou?

Key numbers for living in Caribou: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $116,800, median household income $47,803, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Caribou side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.