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Camden Maine October 2021 001Camden, #1 on this list · Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0
Maine rankings · Civic life

Towns with the most civic life in Maine

Camden ranks first on civic life among Maine’s 143 towns of 2,500+; 39 of the 143 grade A− or better on civic life nationally.

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. How grades work

#1

Camden

Knox County · 5,204 people
A+

Civic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #28 of 142 in ME

#2

Rockport

Knox County · 3,628 people
A+

Civic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #26 of 142 in ME

#3

Rockland

Knox County · 7,142 people
A+

Civic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall C · #94 of 142 in ME

All 143 towns

Civic life grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

143 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1CamdenKnox County · 5,204 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #28 of 142
2RockportKnox County · 3,628 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #26 of 142
3RocklandKnox County · 7,142 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall C · #94 of 142
4Bar HarborHancock County · 5,352 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #18 of 142
5BelfastWaldo County · 6,988 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall B− · #66 of 142
6HallowellKennebec County · 2,624 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall A− · #27 of 142
7EllsworthHancock County · 8,862 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #75 of 142
8FreeportCumberland County · 8,934 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #9 of 142
9BoothbayLincoln County · 3,155 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #73 of 142
10BathSagadahoc County · 8,835 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #36 of 142
11YarmouthCumberland County · 9,062 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #8 of 142
12CumberlandCumberland County · 8,876 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 142
13Cape ElizabethCumberland County · 9,827 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 142
14BrunswickCumberland County · 23,055 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #24 of 142
15St. GeorgeKnox County · 2,595 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #86 of 142
16PortlandCumberland County · 69,911 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #102 of 142
17Orono College campusPenobscot County · 12,421 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A
18Dover-FoxcroftPiscataquis County · 4,463 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #74 of 142
19WindsorKennebec County · 2,758 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #67 of 142
20KennebunkportYork County · 3,717 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #25 of 142
21SearsportWaldo County · 2,737 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #129 of 142
22ArundelYork County · 4,596 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #23 of 142
23BangorPenobscot County · 32,518 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #109 of 142
24KennebunkYork County · 12,152 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #10 of 142
25BethelOxford County · 2,751 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #134 of 142
26BucksportHancock County · 5,066 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #70 of 142
27AugustaKennebec County · 19,155 peopleA−better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #140 of 142
28YorkYork County · 14,293 peopleA−better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 142
29HancockHancock County · 2,593 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #112 of 142
30LymanYork County · 4,713 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #44 of 142
31TopshamSagadahoc County · 9,982 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #30 of 142
32BridgtonCumberland County · 5,965 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #116 of 142
33FalmouthCumberland County · 12,982 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 142
34WiscassetLincoln County · 3,998 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 142
35WellsYork County · 12,094 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #32 of 142
36WoolwichSagadahoc County · 3,287 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 142
37JeffersonLincoln County · 2,728 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #65 of 142
38FarmingtonFranklin County · 8,258 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #99 of 142
39GorhamCumberland County · 19,239 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 142
40HarrisonCumberland County · 2,639 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #136 of 142
41NorwayOxford County · 5,349 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #133 of 142
42Blue HillHancock County · 2,798 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #47 of 142
43North BerwickYork County · 5,355 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #38 of 142
44PittsfieldSomerset County · 3,935 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #124 of 142
45ScarboroughCumberland County · 24,547 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #12 of 142
46MillinocketPenobscot County · 4,095 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #108 of 142
47Presque IsleAroostook County · 8,694 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #125 of 142
48SacoYork County · 21,159 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #22 of 142
49BrewerPenobscot County · 9,636 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #101 of 142
50HoultonAroostook County · 6,056 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #114 of 142
51West GardinerKennebec County · 3,678 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #71 of 142
52NewportPenobscot County · 3,192 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 142
53HoldenPenobscot County · 3,438 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #37 of 142
54WinthropKennebec County · 6,158 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #48 of 142
55NaplesCumberland County · 4,128 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #107 of 142
56BristolLincoln County · 2,969 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #14 of 142
57LincolnPenobscot County · 4,971 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #69 of 142
58GardinerKennebec County · 6,206 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #82 of 142
59PittstonKennebec County · 3,418 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #92 of 142
60SanfordYork County · 22,663 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #104 of 142
61HampdenPenobscot County · 8,078 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #16 of 142
62CorinthPenobscot County · 3,139 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #90 of 142
63DurhamAndroscoggin County · 4,399 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #50 of 142
64DexterPenobscot County · 3,874 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #113 of 142
65EliotYork County · 7,643 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #11 of 142
66South BerwickYork County · 7,941 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #20 of 142
67Old TownPenobscot County · 7,589 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #105 of 142
68KitteryYork County · 11,420 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #43 of 142
69North YarmouthCumberland County · 4,424 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 142
70OrringtonPenobscot County · 3,912 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #56 of 142
71BowdoinhamSagadahoc County · 3,210 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #80 of 142
72SabattusAndroscoggin County · 5,397 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #58 of 142
73RaymondCumberland County · 4,670 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 142
74ParisOxford County · 5,409 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #122 of 142
75CalaisWashington County · 3,083 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #85 of 142
76FryeburgOxford County · 3,576 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #98 of 142
77AuburnAndroscoggin County · 25,441 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #126 of 142
78ReadfieldKennebec County · 2,730 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #29 of 142
79CascoCumberland County · 3,779 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #106 of 142
80WindhamCumberland County · 19,912 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 142
81BowdoinSagadahoc County · 3,254 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #41 of 142
82CaribouAroostook County · 7,321 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #83 of 142
83LitchfieldKennebec County · 3,797 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #91 of 142
84ThomastonKnox County · 2,751 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #123 of 142
85WinterportWaldo County · 3,838 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #21 of 142
86BiddefordYork County · 22,399 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #115 of 142
87WaldoboroLincoln County · 5,324 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #54 of 142
88WiltonFranklin County · 3,878 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #96 of 142
89LevantPenobscot County · 3,289 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #130 of 142
90ChinaKennebec County · 4,636 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 142
91HarpswellCumberland County · 5,102 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #34 of 142
92WestbrookCumberland County · 21,565 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #78 of 142
93WatervilleKennebec County · 17,579 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #137 of 142
94Fort KentAroostook County · 4,151 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #59 of 142
95SkowheganSomerset County · 8,676 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #128 of 142
96MonmouthKennebec County · 4,252 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #46 of 142
97GrayCumberland County · 8,676 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #60 of 142
98BerwickYork County · 8,436 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #55 of 142
99Old Orchard BeachYork County · 9,533 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #89 of 142
100South PortlandCumberland County · 27,007 peopleC+better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #52 of 142
101New GloucesterCumberland County · 5,964 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #13 of 142
102Mechanic FallsAndroscoggin County · 3,286 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #100 of 142
103BelgradeKennebec County · 3,541 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #45 of 142
104ActonYork County · 2,735 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #68 of 142
105MinotAndroscoggin County · 2,866 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #97 of 142
106FarmingdaleKennebec County · 3,000 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #93 of 142
107MadawaskaAroostook County · 3,846 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #76 of 142
108RichmondSagadahoc County · 3,609 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #40 of 142
109VassalboroKennebec County · 4,647 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #135 of 142
110AlfredYork County · 3,188 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #63 of 142
111MadisonSomerset County · 4,888 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #110 of 142
112FairfieldSomerset County · 6,537 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #121 of 142
113MexicoOxford County · 2,779 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #131 of 142
114TurnerAndroscoggin County · 6,127 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #42 of 142
115HollisYork County · 5,003 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #61 of 142
116CarmelPenobscot County · 3,031 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 142
117PolandAndroscoggin County · 6,098 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #118 of 142
118LimingtonYork County · 4,173 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #57 of 142
119LisbonAndroscoggin County · 9,919 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #62 of 142
120OaklandKennebec County · 6,361 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #33 of 142
121MilfordPenobscot County · 3,117 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #79 of 142
122LewistonAndroscoggin County · 38,866 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 142
123OxfordOxford County · 4,449 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #132 of 142
124Fort FairfieldAroostook County · 3,285 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #127 of 142
125StandishCumberland County · 11,000 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #35 of 142
126RumfordOxford County · 6,025 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #139 of 142
127WaterboroYork County · 8,219 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #39 of 142
128JayFranklin County · 4,639 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #87 of 142
129GreeneAndroscoggin County · 4,551 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 142
130GlenburnPenobscot County · 4,825 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #77 of 142
131HermonPenobscot County · 6,982 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #84 of 142
132WinslowKennebec County · 8,063 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #88 of 142
133ChelseaKennebec County · 2,848 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #51 of 142
134SidneyKennebec County · 4,929 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #95 of 142
135BentonKennebec County · 2,821 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #103 of 142
136WarrenKnox County · 5,099 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #81 of 142
137BuxtonYork County · 8,681 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #31 of 142
138ShapleighYork County · 3,025 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #53 of 142
139ClintonKennebec County · 3,378 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #72 of 142
140LimerickYork County · 3,575 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #49 of 142
141NorridgewockSomerset County · 3,304 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #142 of 142
142LebanonYork County · 6,801 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #64 of 142
143Livermore FallsAndroscoggin County · 3,229 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #141 of 142
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Maine town has the most civic life?

Camden (Knox County) ranks first on civic life among 143 towns, with an A+; Rockport and Rockland follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a civic life grade (143 in Maine). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Maine page.

Go deeper

More Maine lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Maine rankings →
Best places to live142 towns · #1 CumberlandBest small towns121 towns · #1 CumberlandMost affordable towns143 towns · #1 MillinocketSafest towns78 towns · #1 RichmondTowns with the best schools142 towns · #1 Cape ElizabethHealthiest towns143 towns · #1 Cape ElizabethBest towns for jobs & income143 towns · #1 CumberlandMost walkable towns143 towns · #1 PortlandTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk143 towns · #1 BridgtonBest towns for the outdoors143 towns · #1 Bar HarborMost historic towns143 towns · #1 HallowellTowns with the least snow141 towns · #1 BerwickDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns141 towns · #1 CaribouDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters142 towns · #1 KitteryDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers142 towns · #1 South BerwickDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers142 towns · #1 St. GeorgeDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes143 towns · #1 CumberlandDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes143 towns · #1 CorinthDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns141 towns · #1 PittstonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries97 towns · #1 CamdenDescribed, no letters
Other states

Towns with the most civic life in other states

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