Outdoor recreation and small-town charm define Caribou
In the northeastern most region of Maine, Caribou offers a rural atmosphere surrounded by natural outdoor escapes. While it maintains a small-town atmosphere, the population hovers around 7,500, making it the second largest city in Aroostook County. “Everywhere in this area you’ll find welcoming people, the old-school neighbor mentality where people will give you the shirt off their backs,” says Lydia Kieffer-Till, co-owner and broker with Kieffer Real Estate who was born and raised in Caribou. “A lot of folks move here and stay for generations. It’s a sweet secret spot because a lot of outsiders don’t think to come this far north.” Kieffer-Till mentions that while they have all the amenities, outdoor activities are the primary focus. The city accommodates year-round adventures, with miles of snowmobiling and mountain biking trails and Aroostook River recreation. Caribou’s countryside terrain has always had a positive impact on the town, as the area was historically known as the Potato Capital of Maine. Today, the city’s spud legacy lives on in local festivals and agricultural contributions. There are still more than 13,000 tillable acres of farming land, and 14% of the town’s property taxes come from farming.
Parks and snowmobile and ATV trails provide year-round fun
Recreational opportunities can be found almost anywhere in Caribou, from the town’s center to the more rural outskirts. Collins Pond Park is known as the heart of Caribou, popular for admiring nature on the 1.5-mile walking trail around the pond. The park also features Dragon World, a landscape playground. Nearby, Sincock Dog Park allows for off-leash play for furry friends, and the Teague Park Complex offers lighted basketball courts, tennis courts, a splash pad and a playground. The Caribou Wellness & Recreation Center has a gymnasium that hosts many of the town’s youth sports teams, as well as a weight room and a walking track.
Further outdoor recreation ensues, thanks to Caribou’s 110 miles of snowmobile trails and 71 miles of ATV trails. “People also use these trail systems for biking and horseback riding,” Kieffer-Till adds. “Skiing, hiking and fishing are also popular here. We have a lot of land, and we make use of it.” During the warmer months, boaters can launch onto the Aroostook River from the boat ramp on Lower Lyndon Street.
Local festivals bring Aroostook County towns together
The rural setting of Caribou and the surrounding towns provides ample room for community festivals and events. “The county is too small to not support each other,” Kieffer-Till says. “A lot of folks live in one town and work in the other, so we’re all tied together and invested in each other.” The Northern Maine Fair is held every summer at the fairgrounds in Presque Isle, the town that borders Caribou’s south side. The lively two-week event features demolition derbies, horse and stock shows, car shows, tractor pulls and a pie-eating contest. Families can also enjoy Dinosaur Day and the Halloween in July Party. Afterward, the Northern Maine Fairgrounds hosts the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest. Held the weekend before Labor Day, the festival offers hot air balloon rides and air glows at night, as well as live music and a craft market.
Another highly anticipated gathering takes place just east of Caribou in the neighboring Fort Fairfield. The Potato Blossom Festival celebrated its 78th year in 2025, offering a week of parades, contests, music and potato-based food vendors. “It’s a beautiful week with dancing, a street festival and a huge parade,” Kieffer-Till says. Additionally, the Mawiomi of Tribes is a cultural event held at the Spruce Haven venue in Caribou. Mawiomi translates to ‘gathering,’ encouraging the community to come out during the third weekend in August to witness traditional dancing, singing, crafts and meals from the Mi’kmaq Nation culture.
Affordable cabins and Cape Cods dot Caribou’s landscape
The housing stock in Caribou features both close-knit homes in more residential pockets around the town’s center and rural countryside properties with acreage around the pastoral outskirts of town. “Most properties have square footage and a lot of space, and they're more affordable,” Kieffer-Till says. Buyers can find traditional New England-style cabins, ranch-style houses and Cape Cods. Prices typically start around $50,000 for a quaint cabin that's less than 1,000 square feet. On the higher end, larger properties with upwards of four bedrooms, three bathrooms and 3,500 square feet can reach $650,000.
Main Street features eateries, breweries and markets
In addition to the the town’s green spaces, much of Caribou’s retail is centrally located where Main Street meets the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and State Route 161. Main Street features a variety of eateries, including Frederick’s Southside Restaurant, known for its American fare and pizza. The Greenhouse Restaurant provides a cozy dining experience with a garden-themed patio atmosphere, and next door, Buck’s Bar is a newer establishment in the Caribou Inn. “Buck’s Bar is one of my favorite places to go. They have a different smash burger every week, like a strawberry and bacon burger,” Kieffer-Till says. She mentions that strawberry farms are popular in the area. Northern Maine Brewing Company is praised for its locally brewed beer and pub food. Sleeper’s Market, a community staple since 1914, offers meats, groceries and clothing. A bit further east from the town’s center, Goughan’s Berry Farm offers fresh produce and berry picking. And for larger grocery market hauls, there’s Hannaford.
It’s not uncommon for residents to venture over the border to Canada for shopping and dining excursions. “They have a different variety of restaurants, and there’s a big grocery market similar to Sam’s Club over there,” Kieffer-Till says. “It’s so handy, to not take advantage would be a shame.”
The Caribou school district includes a performing arts center
Young students living in Caribou can begin at Caribou Community School, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche and serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade learners. Students can then advance to Caribou High School, which holds a C rating. Located on the high school campus, the Caribou Performing Arts Center features an 826-seat auditorium used for both school district and community performances. Also on campus is the Caribou Tech Center, which offers one of the oldest Future Farmers of America chapters in the state.
Route 1 and JetBlue serve the car-dependent community
U.S. Route 1 cuts north-south through Caribou as the area’s main artery. And just south of Caribou, Presque Isle International Airport offers flights through JetBlue. “Presque Isle Airport is working on renovations through state funding to revamp the airport completely,” Kieffer-Till says. “They plan to get some bigger planes through JetBlue and offer more flights.” No public bus or train system services the car-dependent community.
Caribou’s crime rates are low, while snowfall remains high
According to data submitted to the FBI during the years 2022 and 2023, which are the most recent records available, Caribou's crime rates show varying patterns. Generally, rates are lower than the state and national averages; however, there have been instances where crimes related the theft surpass the state average. This fluctuation makes it challenging to identify a consistent pattern, as these specific rates tend to rise and fall unpredictably.
Caribou is known for its significant annual snowfall, averaging around 90 inches. Winters are quite cold, with average low temperatures dropping to about 3 degrees. Summers are relatively mild, with average high temperatures reaching 77 degrees.
Written By
Mary Beth Greene
