Van Buren is a small town of 1,682 in Maine, with a median household income of $34,263
and a 1.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Van Buren stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Van Buren is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Van Buren 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: 88.8
Van Buren's overall cost of living index is 88.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Van Buren costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Van Buren, ME
National Avg
Median Home Value
$92,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$628
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$34,263
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Van Buren's violent crime rate is 65.6 per 100,000 residents
— 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
65.6 /100k
Property Crime
642.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Van Buren is served primarily by RSU 88/MSAD 24.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Van Buren, ME
National Avg
School District
RSU 88/MSAD 24
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
78.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Van Buren sees average highs of 19.1°F in January
and 76.3°F in July,
with 41.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 96.7 inches of snow per year.
Van Buren's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Van Buren roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $92,200 and median rent is $628/month.
Van Buren's violent crime rate is 65.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 642.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Van Buren are operated by RSU 88/MSAD 24.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.2:1. 8.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Van Buren, ME has a population of 1,682, a median household income of $34,263, and an unemployment rate of 1.6%.
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.
Van Buren averages 19.1°F in January and 76.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.5 inches
with about 96.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Van Buren, ME is covered by 1 ZIP code: 04785.
The population of Van Buren, Maine is 1,682 with a median age of 57.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Van Buren: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $92,200, median household income $34,263, crime index 23 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Van Buren side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
