Caribou, ME vs Houlton, ME

Caribou, ME and Houlton, ME have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.2% difference in their overall index. Caribou scores 66 while Houlton scores 67 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Caribou is $696/month compared to $719/month in Houlton — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Caribou is more affordable at $120,300 median vs $121,700.

Median household income in Caribou is $54,271 compared to $52,227 in Houlton (+3.9%). Caribou offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Caribou spend roughly 15.4% of their income on rent, less than the 16.5% in Houlton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (40.7°F vs 40.7°F). Caribou receives more rainfall at 40.7" per year compared to 39.3" in Houlton.