Androscoggin County, Maine Eviction Risk: Moderate

Androscoggin County scores 4.7/10 (Moderate) on the EvictionRiskMap scale, placing it second out of 16 Maine counties by risk level. That means only one county in the state carries higher eviction risk, and 14 are more landlord-friendly. For investors sizing up a market in Maine, that context matters: the county as a whole is firmly in the higher-risk third of the state, driven by a renter share of 42.6% of households, an average rent of $993, and an average rent burden of 30.9%, all of which feed into collection pressure across the portfolio.

The spread across the county's 9 cities runs from 4.1 to 5, a 0.7-point range that is narrow enough to look uniform at first glance but wide enough to shift your underwriting meaningfully. Operating conditions here demand standard professional discipline: solid lease documentation, prompt notice delivery, and a realistic budget for the eviction pipeline before you need it.

The cities inside Androscoggin County

The highest-risk city in the county is Lewiston at 5/10, followed by Auburn and Mechanic Falls, both at 4.8/10. Auburn, with a population of 24,602, is the second-largest city in the county and accounts for a sizable slice of total rental inventory, so that 6.3 is not a small-market edge case. Livermore Falls, by contrast, is a smaller market of 1,409 residents where limited economic depth pushes the score to the county ceiling.

At the lower end, Greene and Turner both score 4.3/10, and Lewiston, the county's largest city at 38,324 residents, sits at 6/10, a score that reflects its scale and density rather than meaningfully softer risk. Risk in Androscoggin County is hyper-local: a few miles and a jurisdiction line separate the top and bottom of the range, so city-level data should drive every acquisition decision.

State-level laws that apply here

Under Maine eviction law, governed by 14 M.R.S. § 6001 et seq. (Forcible Entry and Detainer), the notice period for non-payment of rent is 7 days. Lease violations trigger a 30-day notice, and no-cause terminations at end of term also require 30 days. Once a case is filed, an uncontested matter typically resolves in 30 to 50 days; a contested case stretches to 60 to 120 days. Maine does not require just cause for termination and has not preempted local rent control, though no active rent cap formula applies statewide. For a full cost breakdown, see the Maine eviction costs guide: court filing fees run $150 to $200, sheriff lockout fees add $50 to $150, and attorney fees typically range from $750 to $3,000.

Maine state law also protects source of income as a fair housing category, administered by the Maine Human Rights Commission, which adds a layer of screening compliance to consider. Landlords must provide 24 hours notice before entry. Understanding the full Maine eviction process, including notice requirements, cure periods, and court timelines, is essential before carrying vacant units through a contested case in this market.

With a poverty rate of 14.7% across the county, tenant financial fragility is above typical levels, reinforcing why each city's individual score in the grid above deserves a close read before committing capital.