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Buying a home in Caribou, Maine

The typical owner-occupied home in Caribou is worth about $134,100, 55% below the Maine median of $296,600 and 60% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,680 a year in property taxes, about 1.25% of their home's value, higher than the Maine rate of 1.02%. The median household earns $53,709 a year, so the median home costs 2.5 times the median income (4.0 times for Maine). 72% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 45% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Caribou at a glance

Caribou Maine U.S.
Median home value $134,100 $296,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,680 $3,036 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.25% 1.02% 0.94%
Median household income $53,709 $74,733 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 72% 74% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 45% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,148 $1,729 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.0% 20.6% 21.0%
Median rent $757 $1,139 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.8% 29.4% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1960 1977 1980
Vacant homes 9.9% 20.6% 10.1%
Population 7,382 1,387,817 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Caribou

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Caribou home of $134,100 with 20% down costs about $917 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,141, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $39,310 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 20% of the median Caribou household income of $53,709; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $183,000.

The median rent here is $757 a month, so owning the median home costs about $160 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$26,820
Loan amount$107,280
Principal and interest$722
Property taxes (1.25% a year)$140
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$56
PMI$0
Total per month$917

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,694
Loan amount$131,671
Principal and interest$886
Property taxes (1.25% a year)$140
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$56
FHA mortgage insurance$59
Total per month$1,141

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Questions about home buying in Caribou

What is the median home value in Caribou?

About $134,100 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Caribou?

Homeowners pay a median $1,680 a year, which is about 1.25% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Caribou?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $917 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $39,310 a year.

More about Caribou

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data