The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 04982 sells for about $285,000, or $165 per square foot.
Prices are up +3.2% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 58 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $767 a month.
ZIP 04982 — Stratton
The housing market in 04982 remains stable with low inventory and moderate price growth consistent with rural Maine trends. Demand is driven by local employment at the university and a preference for affordable, detached single-family homes. Market activity is currently balanced, with limited new construction keeping supply tight.
This area is best suited for those seeking a rural lifestyle, including university-affiliated individuals, retirees, and families looking for affordable housing away from major urban centers.
Median prices moved up 3.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 58 days on market with 4.2 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
15% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 2.5% · poverty 20.1% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.8%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.5%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 04982, Waldo County, ME
The area is served by Regional School Unit 3, which provides public education for the town of Unity and surrounding communities.
The area is subject to standard Maine climate risks, including winter storm exposure and seasonal wildfire risk in forested zones.
Economic activity is anchored by Unity Environmental University and local agricultural enterprises, with modest growth focused on rural residential development.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Maine) — Maine Resident Homestead Property Tax Exemption: Provides a reduction in the valuation of the homestead for property tax purposes. The exemption amount is set by state statute (currently $25,000 of the just value of the property). The formula is: (Just Value - Homestead Exemption) * Local Tax Rate = Tax Due.
Commuting is primarily car-dependent, with residents typically driving to employment hubs in Waterville or Belfast via state routes.
The area features Unity Pond (Lake Winnecook) for water recreation and proximity to the Unity College trails and local conservation lands.
The rental market is limited in depth, heavily influenced by the student population associated with the local university and a small stock of single-family rentals.
The economy is driven by higher education, agriculture, and small-scale forestry operations.
Transportation is entirely reliant on private vehicles; there is no public transit infrastructure.
Development is largely restricted to small-scale residential infill and agricultural land use.
The town performs property assessments for tax purposes, with periodic revaluations to align with market values.
Parcels are subject to municipal taxes and the Regional School Unit 3 assessment.
Property insurance premiums are generally stable but reflect risks associated with rural fire protection and winter weather damage.
Maine is a judicial foreclosure state, requiring court action to complete the foreclosure process.
Sellers are required to provide a property disclosure statement regarding known defects, though the scope is limited compared to other states.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov for ZCTA 04982.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Saddleback Ski Area & Bike Park4.716.3 mi
- The Rack4.47.5 mi
- Moose Alley4.318.4 mi
- Bigelow Preserve4.85.8 mi
- The SugarBowl4.410.5 mi
- Bigelow Preserve4.85.8 mi
- Flagstaff Lake4.83.7 mi
- Sugarloaf Golf Club4.67.8 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
A large lake providing fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities.
Extensive trail network used for hiking, cross-country skiing, and nature study.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.