Fort Fairfield, ME vs Rumford, ME

Fort Fairfield, ME and Rumford, ME have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.8% difference in their overall index. Fort Fairfield scores 61 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 Fort Fairfield is $460/month compared to $622/month in Rumford — a 26% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fort Fairfield has cheaper rent, Rumford actually has lower median home values ($115,300 vs $145,800).

Median household income in Fort Fairfield is $46,654 compared to $32,240 in Rumford (+44.7%). Fort Fairfield offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Fairfield spend roughly 11.8% 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). Fort Fairfield receives more rainfall at 40.7" per year compared to 36.5" in Rumford.