About this project
Housing in Rockland has become significantly more expensive, with median home prices roughly doubling since 2020. Renters are vulnerable to being priced out, first-time buyers find starter homes out of reach, and local businesses struggle to find workers who can afford to live nearby.
City leaders have responded with zoning reforms, partnerships with affordable housing developers, and a $10 million housing bond approved by voters in June 2025. This housing plan guides policies, funding, and initiatives for the next ten years, establishing a production target of 60 new housing units per year to stabilize costs and preserve Rockland's socioeconomic diversity.
Housing Production Target
| 2,800 | Homes needed in Knox County by 2030 (State Housing Production Needs Study) |
| 17,979 | Households in Knox County (2023) |
| 3,386 | Households in Rockland (2023) |
| 19% | Rockland's share of Knox County households |
| 540 | Rockland new housing units needed 2021-2030 |
| 60 | Annual housing production target (units per year) |
| 233 | Rental units needed (apartments) |
| 307 | Ownership units needed (homes and condos) |
Maine's Housing Production Needs Study identified that Knox County requires 2,800 new homes from 2021 to 2030. Rockland's proportional share is 540 units over the decade, or 60 units per year.
How affordable is this community?
This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.
| $340,316 | Typical home price (Zillow, Mar 2026) |
| 6.33% | 30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac, Apr 2026) |
| 1.66% | Effective property tax rate |
| $1,091 | Average annual homeowner's insurance |
| $87,663 | Median household income (Census, 2026) |
| 30% | Assumed max housing cost share of income |
This chart decomposes changes in housing affordability into two factors: the price-to-income ratio and mortgage rates. Each line shows the cumulative contribution of that factor to the change in the affordability gap (the difference between income required to purchase a typical home and median income). The decomposition uses Shapley value attribution to fairly allocate changes across correlated factors.
How are households changing by income?
Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.
| AMI Group | Income Range | Households |
|---|---|---|
| <30% AMI | <$29K | 862 |
| 30-50% AMI | $29K - $49K | 669 |
| 50-80% AMI | $49K - $79K | 833 |
| 80-100% AMI | $79K - $98K | 416 |
| 100-120% AMI | $98K - $118K | 236 |
| >120% AMI | >$118K | 724 |
How is the population changing?
Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.
The share of households with children indicates family housing demand, while the share with people over 65 reflects the growing need for senior-friendly and accessible housing options.
The share of people aged 25-34 indicates the pipeline of workers entering the labor force, while the share aged 65+ shows the pace of retirement. Comparing these trends reveals whether communities face a tightening or expanding labor supply.
How are household types changing?
This chart shows how household composition has changed over time, comparing the distribution of household types between 2015 and 2023. Changes in household types can indicate shifting demographics and evolving housing needs in a community.
Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.
Cost burden measures the share of household income spent on housing. Households paying more than 30% are considered cost burdened, while those paying more than 50% are severely cost burdened. Lower-income households typically face the highest rates of cost burden.
Household type data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Household types include family households (married couples, single parents) and non-family households (people living alone, unrelated roommates).
What does the housing stock look like?
The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.
This chart shows rental and homeowner vacancy rates over time. A healthy rental vacancy rate is around 7.5%, and a healthy homeowner vacancy rate is around 1.5%. Rates well below these thresholds suggest a tight housing market with limited options for people looking to move.