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Children & Families

How Maine's kids are faring — child protection and foster care, the safety net, health coverage and outcomes, and early learning, county by county. These are administrative counts from Maine OCFS, DHHS, the Maine CDC and the Department of Education, republished by the Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT Data Center.

16.6

substantiated child-maltreatment victims per 1,000 children (2024) — roughly twice the national rate

Child welfare

Maine substantiates child abuse and neglect for roughly 16.6 of every 1,000 children — about twice the national rate — and the burden falls hardest on rural counties. Children removed to foster care follow the same geography.

Child maltreatment rate by county

Substantiated victims per 1,000 children, 2024

Hover a county for its victims per 1,000 children.
Androscoggin — 16Aroostook — 42.6Cumberland — 6.7Franklin — 14.4Hancock — 12.9Kennebec — 21.4Knox — 17.3Lincoln — 15.3Oxford — 23.5Penobscot — 21.1Piscataquis — 10.9Sagadahoc — 2Somerset — 39.8Waldo — 18.3Washington — 20.9York — 12.7
242.6no data
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Child maltreatment rate by county — data table
CountyValue
Androscoggin16
Aroostook42.6
Cumberland6.7
Franklin14.4
Hancock12.9
Kennebec21.4
Knox17.3
Lincoln15.3
Oxford23.5
Penobscot21.1
Piscataquis10.9
Sagadahoc2
Somerset39.8
Waldo18.3
Washington20.9
York12.7

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine OCFS)

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Child maltreatment rate over time

Substantiated victims per 1,000 Maine children, statewide

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Child maltreatment rate over time — data table
YearValue
2,01713
2,01816.5
2,01918.3
2,02017.6
2,02116.9
2,02215.8
2,02314.9
2,02416.6

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine OCFS)

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Children in foster care by county

In state custody per 1,000 children, by county of removal, 2024

Hover a county for its children in foster care per 1,000.
Androscoggin — 14.5Aroostook — 17.7Cumberland — 5.2Franklin — 7.8Hancock — 11.7Kennebec — 11.1Knox — 8.3Lincoln — 4.8Oxford — 13.6Penobscot — 10Piscataquis — 10.2Sagadahoc — 6.4Somerset — 20.2Waldo — 16Washington — 9.5York — 5.5
4.820.2no data
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Children in foster care by county — data table
CountyValue
Androscoggin14.5
Aroostook17.7
Cumberland5.2
Franklin7.8
Hancock11.7
Kennebec11.1
Knox8.3
Lincoln4.8
Oxford13.6
Penobscot10
Piscataquis10.2
Sagadahoc6.4
Somerset20.2
Waldo16
Washington9.5
York5.5

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine OCFS)

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Children in foster care over time

In state custody per 1,000 Maine children, statewide

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Children in foster care over time — data table
YearValue
2,0167.1
2,0176.1
2,0187.1
2,0198.6
2,0208.9
2,0219
2,0229.4
2,0239.6
2,0249.6

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine OCFS)

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Rates are per 1,000 children. Foster care is counted by the child’s county of removal. From Maine OCFS via the Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT Data Center.

Safety net

About one in five Maine children gets food help through SNAP, and a similar share live in food-insecure households; far fewer families now receive TANF cash assistance. SNAP and food insecurity lean rural, while TANF peaks in Androscoggin.

Share of children receiving SNAP by county

Percent of children enrolled in SNAP, 2024

Hover a county for its children receiving snap.
Androscoggin — 30.4%Aroostook — 30.2%Cumberland — 13.3%Franklin — 24.3%Hancock — 17.3%Kennebec — 21.2%Knox — 18%Lincoln — 18%Oxford — 30.8%Penobscot — 22.7%Piscataquis — 31.3%Sagadahoc — 14.2%Somerset — 31.4%Waldo — 23.2%Washington — 32.4%York — 14.4%
13.3%32.4%no data
Show data table
Share of children receiving SNAP by county — data table
CountyValue
Androscoggin30.4
Aroostook30.2
Cumberland13.3
Franklin24.3
Hancock17.3
Kennebec21.2
Knox18
Lincoln18
Oxford30.8
Penobscot22.7
Piscataquis31.3
Sagadahoc14.2
Somerset31.4
Waldo23.2
Washington32.4
York14.4

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine DHHS)

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Children receiving SNAP over time

Percent of Maine children enrolled in SNAP, statewide

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Children receiving SNAP over time — data table
YearValue
2,00316.2
2,00420
2,00519.9
2,00620.4
2,00723.7
2,00821.8
2,00925.1
2,01026.7
2,01127.6
2,01231.7
2,01329.4
2,01427.4
2,01526.7
2,01626.1
2,01725.1
2,01822.3
2,01923.2
2,02021.7
2,02119.1
2,02219.6
2,02320.9
2,02420.7

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine DHHS)

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Child food insecurity by county

Percent of children who are food insecure, 2023

Hover a county for its children who are food insecure.
Androscoggin — 25.6%Aroostook — 24.3%Cumberland — 15.8%Franklin — 21.2%Hancock — 19.7%Kennebec — 22%Knox — 18.1%Lincoln — 19.5%Oxford — 23.5%Penobscot — 21.9%Piscataquis — 25%Sagadahoc — 19.6%Somerset — 24.7%Waldo — 21.5%Washington — 27.3%York — 18.2%
15.8%27.3%no data
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Child food insecurity by county — data table
CountyValue
Androscoggin25.6
Aroostook24.3
Cumberland15.8
Franklin21.2
Hancock19.7
Kennebec22
Knox18.1
Lincoln19.5
Oxford23.5
Penobscot21.9
Piscataquis25
Sagadahoc19.6
Somerset24.7
Waldo21.5
Washington27.3
York18.2

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Feeding America)

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Share of children receiving TANF by county

Percent of children receiving TANF cash assistance, 2024

Hover a county for its children receiving tanf.
Androscoggin — 7.7%Aroostook — 4.6%Cumberland — 2.9%Franklin — 2.9%Hancock — 1.5%Kennebec — 4%Knox — 2%Lincoln — 2.2%Oxford — 4.5%Penobscot — 3.8%Piscataquis — 5.1%Sagadahoc — 2.5%Somerset — 4.6%Waldo — 2.3%Washington — 4.7%York — 2.4%
1.5%7.7%no data
Show data table
Share of children receiving TANF by county — data table
CountyValue
Androscoggin7.7
Aroostook4.6
Cumberland2.9
Franklin2.9
Hancock1.5
Kennebec4
Knox2
Lincoln2.2
Oxford4.5
Penobscot3.8
Piscataquis5.1
Sagadahoc2.5
Somerset4.6
Waldo2.3
Washington4.7
York2.4

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine DHHS)

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SNAP and TANF counts are from Maine DHHS; child food insecurity is modeled by Feeding America — all via the Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT Data Center.

Health coverage

MaineCare covers more than half of Maine’s children — about 140,666 in 2024, or 53.3% of everyone under 19, and roughly three in four in the most rural counties.

Share of children on MaineCare by county

Percent of children under 19 covered, 2024

Hover a county for its children on mainecare.
Androscoggin — 64.6%Aroostook — 65.3%Cumberland — 38.6%Franklin — 60.4%Hancock — 53.3%Kennebec — 53.6%Knox — 54.1%Lincoln — 52.6%Oxford — 68.3%Penobscot — 54.7%Piscataquis — 72.2%Sagadahoc — 42.8%Somerset — 70.5%Waldo — 61.5%Washington — 74.7%York — 43.2%
38.6%74.7%no data
Show data table
Share of children on MaineCare by county — data table
CountyValue
Androscoggin64.6
Aroostook65.3
Cumberland38.6
Franklin60.4
Hancock53.3
Kennebec53.6
Knox54.1
Lincoln52.6
Oxford68.3
Penobscot54.7
Piscataquis72.2
Sagadahoc42.8
Somerset70.5
Waldo61.5
Washington74.7
York43.2

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine DHHS)

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Children on MaineCare over time

Maine children under 19 covered, by year

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Children on MaineCare over time — data table
YearChildren
2,010137,998
2,011141,292
2,012144,198
2,013140,606
2,014139,021
2,015133,382
2,016131,287
2,017126,239
2,018121,350
2,019118,137
2,020118,603
2,021122,083
2,022128,221
2,023133,431
2,024140,666

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine DHHS)

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Children’s MaineCare counts appear in more depth on the Health page; this is the same child-specific series, shown here in the children’s context.

Child health

Maine screens most toddlers for lead and keeps elevated blood-lead levels rare, though older housing stock keeps exposure a live risk. Roughly one baby in ten is born at low birthweight, and about three in four two-year-olds are fully immunized.

Young children with elevated blood lead by county

Percent of children under 6 with elevated blood lead, 2024

Hover a county for its children with elevated blood lead.
Androscoggin — 3.4%AroostookCumberland — 1.5%Franklin — 2%Hancock — 4.1%Kennebec — 1.9%Knox — 2.8%Lincoln — 3.1%Oxford — 1.7%Penobscot — 1.8%PiscataquisSagadahocSomerset — 3.6%WaldoWashington — 2.2%York — 1.4%
1.4%4.1%no data
Show data table
Young children with elevated blood lead by county — data table
CountyValue
Androscoggin3.4
Cumberland1.5
Franklin2
Hancock4.1
Kennebec1.9
Knox2.8
Lincoln3.1
Oxford1.7
Penobscot1.8
Somerset3.6
Washington2.2
York1.4

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine CDC)

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Elevated blood lead over time

Percent of Maine children under 6 with elevated blood lead, statewide

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Elevated blood lead over time — data table
YearValue
2,00310.4
2,0048
2,0057.5
2,0067.6
2,0075.7
2,0085.1
2,0094.4
2,0104.3
2,0113.9
2,0124.2
2,0133.6
2,0143.3
2,0153
2,0163.3
2,0172.9
2,0182.7
2,0192.3
2,0201.9
2,0211.9
2,0222.1
2,0231.6
2,0241.9

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine CDC)

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Low-birthweight births by county

Percent of babies born at low birthweight, 2024

Hover a county for its babies born at low birthweight.
Androscoggin — 10.1%Aroostook — 8.7%Cumberland — 9.8%Franklin — 11.6%Hancock — 7.7%Kennebec — 10%Knox — 9.4%Lincoln — 8.4%Oxford — 9.2%Penobscot — 9.7%Piscataquis — 8.3%Sagadahoc — 8.8%Somerset — 11%Waldo — 9.8%Washington — 10.1%York — 9.8%
7.7%11.6%no data
Show data table
Low-birthweight births by county — data table
CountyValue
Androscoggin10.1
Aroostook8.7
Cumberland9.8
Franklin11.6
Hancock7.7
Kennebec10
Knox9.4
Lincoln8.4
Oxford9.2
Penobscot9.7
Piscataquis8.3
Sagadahoc8.8
Somerset11
Waldo9.8
Washington10.1
York9.8

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine CDC)

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Low-birthweight births over time

Percent of Maine babies born at low birthweight, statewide

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Low-birthweight births over time — data table
YearValue
2,0016
2,0026.3
2,0036.5
2,0046.4
2,0056.8
2,0066.9
2,0076.3
2,0086.7
2,0096.3
2,0106.3
2,0116.7
2,0126.7
2,0137.1
2,0147.5
2,0156.9
2,0167.1
2,0177.1
2,0187.2
2,0197.4
2,0207.5
2,0217.3
2,0228.2
2,0238
2,0249.7

Most recent 24 of 28 rows shown.

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine CDC)

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Young children screened for lead by county

Percent of 1- and 2-year-olds screened, 2024

Hover a county for its toddlers screened for lead.
Androscoggin — 76%Aroostook — 70.6%Cumberland — 92.4%Franklin — 97.6%Hancock — 36.2%Kennebec — 75.7%Knox — 71.4%Lincoln — 85.8%Oxford — 72.8%Penobscot — 52.5%Piscataquis — 50%Sagadahoc — 73.3%Somerset — 72.1%Waldo — 59.1%Washington — 85.1%York — 73.8%
36.2%97.6%no data
Show data table
Young children screened for lead by county — data table
CountyValue
Androscoggin76
Aroostook70.6
Cumberland92.4
Franklin97.6
Hancock36.2
Kennebec75.7
Knox71.4
Lincoln85.8
Oxford72.8
Penobscot52.5
Piscataquis50
Sagadahoc73.3
Somerset72.1
Waldo59.1
Washington85.1
York73.8

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine CDC)

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Two-year-olds fully immunized over time

Percent of Maine 2-year-olds fully immunized, statewide

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Two-year-olds fully immunized over time — data table
YearValue
2,00939.1
2,01046.2
2,01171.5
2,01274.9
2,01370.3
2,01487.3
2,01574.1
2,01672.7
2,01776.8
2,01879.3
2,01982.5
2,02080.4
2,02180.6
2,02281.1
2,02375.2

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine CDC)

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Lead, birthweight and immunization figures are from the Maine CDC via the Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT Data Center.

Learning

Roughly two in three Maine fourth graders read at or above the state’s expectations — highest in Cumberland and Knox, lowest in Androscoggin — while chronic absenteeism (missing a tenth of the school year) climbed after the pandemic and falls far harder on economically disadvantaged students.

Fourth graders reading at or above expectations by county

Percent at or above state expectations, 2025

Hover a county for its 4th graders at or above expectations.
Androscoggin — 48.1%Aroostook — 65.3%Cumberland — 71.9%Franklin — 63.1%Hancock — 64.5%Kennebec — 61.6%Knox — 71.1%Lincoln — 67.5%Oxford — 56.3%Penobscot — 61.8%Piscataquis — 56.6%Sagadahoc — 67.4%Somerset — 58.5%Waldo — 63.2%Washington — 50.5%York — 67%
48.1%71.9%no data
Show data table
Fourth graders reading at or above expectations by county — data table
CountyValue
Androscoggin48.1
Aroostook65.3
Cumberland71.9
Franklin63.1
Hancock64.5
Kennebec61.6
Knox71.1
Lincoln67.5
Oxford56.3
Penobscot61.8
Piscataquis56.6
Sagadahoc67.4
Somerset58.5
Waldo63.2
Washington50.5
York67

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine DOE)

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Chronic absenteeism: the economic-status gap

Percent of Maine students missing 10%+ of school days, statewide

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Chronic absenteeism: the economic-status gap — data table
YearTotalDisadvantaged
2,01816.524.4
2,01916.825.3
2,02018.326.3
2,02120.933.6
2,02228.440
2,02327.238.4
2,02424.534.9
2,02524.434.4

Source: AECF KIDS COUNT (Maine DOE)

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Reading is the share of fourth graders scoring at or above Maine’s state expectations on the statewide assessment. That assessment changed in 2021 and again in 2023, so comparisons across those breaks aren’t valid; the map shows the current assessment (2025). Reading and chronic absenteeism are from the Maine Department of Education via the Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT Data Center.