Rents are 5% below what Bangor's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,509 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Bangor is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2020.
Rent in Bangor changed +3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 Maine cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($59,942) is $1,499 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,390); a 3-bedroom is $1,780.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bangor. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Bangor, ME is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 35.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bangor, ME has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Bangor, ME has shifted from $1,095 to $1,509, up 37.8% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $49,652 to $59,942 across the same window, up 20.7% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 37.1% to 35.1% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Bangor, ME look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Bangor
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Can you afford rent in Bangor on your salary?
At $1,509/mo, how Bangor rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Bangor rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Bangor. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Bangor
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Bangor is $1,509/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,010/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,090/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,780/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($59,942/yr), Bangor ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Bangor?
Is rent going up or down in Bangor?
How does Bangor rent compare to other cities in Maine?
At $1,509/mo, rent takes ~30% of Bangor's median household income ($59,942/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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