The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 04985 sells for about $217,000, or $142 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.4% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 88 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,150 a month.
ZIP 04985 — West Forks
The housing market in 04985 is characterized by low volume and limited inventory, typical of a remote rural area. Prices have seen modest year-over-year growth, driven by demand for recreational properties and rural retreats rather than urban migration. Market conditions remain stable with little speculative activity.
This ZIP is best suited for outdoor enthusiasts, remote workers seeking seclusion, or those looking for affordable rural living away from major metropolitan centers.
Median prices moved up 2.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 88 days on market with 6.0 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
15% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 97.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 0.0% · poverty 12.0% — 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 5.4%/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 5.2%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 04985, Somerset County ME
The area is served by rural regional school units where school quality is generally consistent with small-town Maine standards, though specific ratings are often limited by low enrollment numbers.
The region faces moderate wildfire risk and seasonal winter weather hazards; property insurance availability is stable but premiums are sensitive to regional climate-risk adjustments.
Economic momentum is limited, characterized by a reliance on forestry, outdoor recreation, and seasonal tourism rather than large-scale corporate 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.
Commutes are exclusively by private vehicle, with long drive times to regional employment hubs in larger towns like Skowhegan or Waterville.
The area is defined by its proximity to the Kennebec River and extensive wilderness access, including hiking, fishing, and snowmobiling trails.
The rental market is extremely thin with very low inventory, primarily serving seasonal workers or long-term residents in a non-urban context.
The local economy is driven by the forestry industry, outdoor tourism, and seasonal recreational services.
No major commercial or residential developments are currently reported for this rural ZIP code.
Parcels are subject to local municipal taxes and regional school district levies.
Property insurance is generally available, though premiums reflect the remote nature of the geography and wildfire exposure.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA-level tables.
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.
Major regional waterway used for fishing and recreational boating.
Extensive network of snowmobile and ATV trails.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.