Perham

About Perham, Maine

Perham is an incorporated town located in eastern Aroostook County in northeastern Maine, resting at an elevation of approximately 673 feet (205 meters) above sea level. The town borders Woodland along its eastern boundary. Covering a total area of 36.64 square miles (94.90 square kilometers), the community consists of 36.53 square miles (94.61 square kilometers) of land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 square kilometers) of water.

As of the 2020 Census, Perham had a population of 371 residents. American Community Survey 5-year estimates reported about 134 households with an average of 2.4 persons per household and an estimated median age of 53 years. For labor tracking, the Maine Department of Labor places Perham within the Presque Isle Labor Market Area. The town has an estimated median household income of $62,500, an average per capita income of $38,529, and an estimated poverty rate of 2.45%.

Community Services and Government

The municipal office and clerk services for Perham are located at 206 High Meadow Road, and the town is served by ZIP code 04766. Perham is represented as part of Aroostook County Commissioner District 3. Fire protection services are provided by the neighboring Washburn Fire Department. Local community institutions include the Perham Historical Society, Fairview Cemetery, Perham Baptist Church, and North Star Pentecostal Church.

Schools

Public education is administered through Maine School Administrative District 45 (MSAD #45), also designated as Regional School Unit 45, which serves Perham, Wade, and Washburn. Perham holds two director seats on the governing school board. The superintendent's office is located at 33 School Street in Washburn. Elementary students attend David J. Lyon Washburn Elementary School at 33 School Street, while secondary students attend Washburn District High School at 1359 Main Street in Washburn.

Outdoor Recreation

Visitors exploring Perham Maine will find several natural features and recreational trails. The town is traversed by streams including West Branch Salmon Brook, Factory Brook, and Caribou Stream. Drainage flows through Salmon Brook into the Salmon Brook Lake Bog wetland system.

The Salmon Brook Lake Bog Public Reserved Land spans 1,857 acres in Perham, featuring a 1,053-acre state ecological reserve and northern white cedar wetlands. Within the reserve, a 4.7-mile trail network crosses dirt, gravel, and bog boardwalks for hiking, nature study, and wildlife watching. A day-use area along the trails includes a picnic shelter and hand-carry boat access to Salmon Brook Lake, a shallow 51-acre water body.

In addition, the Bangor and Aroostook Trail runs directly through Perham, offering year-round multi-use trail access for hiking, bicycling, ATVs, and snowmobiles.

Transportation

Maine State Route 228 is the primary highway passing through Perham, linking the town southwest toward Washburn and east toward Woodland and Caribou. The Maine Department of Transportation maintains Route 228, with highway paving scheduled under the 2026–2028 Work Plan, and allocated $29,344 in Local Road Assistance Program funding to Perham for fiscal year 2026.

Public transit and demand-response rides are provided by Aroostook Regional Transportation Systems (ARTS). For air travel, Caribou Municipal Airport provides public aviation in neighboring Caribou, while commercial flights operate out of Presque Isle International Airport in Presque Isle.