Patten Drug Store, c. 1900
Patten’s story
184 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1800.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1842Patten is settled
PattenME
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
Population
900
2025 Census estimate · +1.9% since 2020
Typical home
$164K
−5.6% in a year
Household income
$51K
median
Median age
57.8
years
Jobs based here
273
Balanced
Is Patten a good place to live?
39% of residents are 65 or older in Patten, above both the Maine town median (22%) and the median of U.S. towns (18%). Among 134 Maine towns, just one has a lower midpoint rent than Patten. Patten’s concentration of trails is 1.6 miles per square mile, above both Maine’s towns (0.7) and U.S. towns (0.4). Bradford Farm Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. Patten has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Patten stand out
Where Patten beats most towns.
A shrinking town
Patten has shrunk 12% since 2010
1,017 counted in 2010 and 881 in 2020; an estimated 900 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Patten: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Patten, and how to reach them.
PowerEastern Maine Electric Coop19.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPatten Water DeptNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers82% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Patten’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Maine you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections herePatten Town ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2026
ZIP code0476504765 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Patten.
Housing
Homes in Patten are worth about $164K, by Zillow’s estimate
Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home lost 5.6% of its value. 83% of Patten households own their home.
$164KZillow home value
Typical home value
Patten$164K
Maine$412K
−5.6%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
77°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter8–26°
Spring28–50°
Summer52–75°
Fall35–54°
Sep 30
typical first frost
May 13
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
77°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
More of Patten’s residents live below the poverty line than in the typical Maine or U.S. town
For Patten, the mean commuting time is 28 minutes. Among 144 Maine towns, just 5 have a lower income of the median household than Patten. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Patten dropped by 21, to 273. Half commute less than 32 miles.
18%work in town
| Patten | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 23% | 9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $51,000 | $78,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Patten18%
Houlton10%
Stacyville8%
Millinocket5%
Bangor4%
32 mi
median commute distance
273
jobs based in Patten
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
Compared with most of Maine and the rest of the country, more of Patten’s adults have diabetes
Against the Maine average, Patten comes out ahead on 3 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 24. No town among the 144 in Maine we compare has a higher share of adults who have obesity than Patten. On top of that, the share of adults in Patten who have high blood pressure: 48%. Only 3 of the 144 Maine towns we compare have a higher share of adults 18 to 64 who have no health insurance than Patten.
| Patten | Maine towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 11% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 14% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 48% | 35% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 19% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Maine
3 better5 too close to call24 worse
| What stands out | Patten | ME |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 12.8% | 15.5% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.8% | 76.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.7% | 8.4% |
Millinocket Regional Hospital
25.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Patten has a moderate natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Patten once, in 2008. FEMA expects less storm and flood damage in the town than in 58% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects locally, 71% come from inland flooding and 11% from hurricanes.
42risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesWinter weather
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Outdoors
0.3% of Patten is conserved land
Among 144 Maine towns, just 10 have a lower share of conserved land than Patten. 62 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.
0.3%conserved
0.3%
conserved · 73 of 24,316 acres
62 mi
of trails · 1.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument | — | 8 |
| 2. Town of Patten Recreation Area | 0.1 mi | 6 |
| 3. Patten Lumbermans Museum | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Patten
18pages on Patten
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Patten; the nearest are
University of Maine at Presque IsleUniversity or college · Public · Presque Isle52.2 mi$9,402 in-state tuitionNorthern Maine Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Presque Isle53.3 mi$4,156 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Patten residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Maine.
Small town
900 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
CrystalStacyvilleMount ChasePatten
Famous people from Patten
4 notable people were born in Patten.
About Patten
Town in Maine, United States
Patten is a small town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 881. The village of Patten is in the northeastern part of the town.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 38 sq mi
- Elevation
- 666 ft
- ZIP code
- 04765
- Area code
- 207
Questions about Patten
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Patten, ME a good place to live?
Patten has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Patten, ME known for?
4 notable people were born here, including Gladys George and Lou Rogers.