Caribou, ME vs Rumford, ME

Caribou, ME and Rumford, ME have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.2% difference in their overall index. Caribou scores 66 while Rumford scores 64 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 $622/month in Rumford — a 12% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Rumford is more affordable at $115,300 median vs $120,300.

Median household income in Caribou is $54,271 compared to $32,240 in Rumford (+68.3%). While Caribou is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Caribou spend roughly 15.4% of their income on rent, less than the 23.2% in Rumford.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (40.7°F vs 41.4°F). Caribou receives more rainfall at 40.7" per year compared to 36.5" in Rumford.