Groundwork

Market rankings · Maine

Pet businesses in Maine

Markets across Maine ranked by the Groundwork market score for pet businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings
881
94 chain locations (11%)
Official establishments
472
+22.6% since 2019
Household spending a year
$371.2M
On pets
Listings per 10k households
14.8
42% above the U.S.
Spending per listing
$421K
52% below the U.S.
Rank among states
#49 of 51
Market score 16 · Low

A site report maps the pet businesses on map listings around any address in Maine by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

Map listings as of September 2026 show 881 pet businesses in Maine. Chain locations make up 11% of them, against 17% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 14.8, 42% above the U.S. rate of 10.4.

At $622 per household (32% below the U.S. average), households in Maine spend about $371.2M a year on pets. Spread across 881 pet businesses, that is $421K per business, 52% below the U.S. figure of $878K.

Official counts show 472 businesses with payroll classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in Maine in 2023, up 22.6% from 2019. That is one for every 1,265 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 11.4% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 28 SBA-backed loans worth $15M have gone to businesses classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in Maine.

Among the 50 states and DC, Maine ranks #49 for pet businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 16 (low). Of the 3 scored metro areas in or partly in Maine, the Lewiston-Auburn metro area scores highest (30). The one scored small-town market in or partly in Maine, the Augusta-Waterville area, scores 23.

Every market in Maine for pet businesses

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Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Maine, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.

Metro areas

Metro areas reaching Maine, ranked for pet businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Lewiston-Auburn, ME305511.7$488K+4.8%#339 of 387
2Portland-South Portland, ME1738816.2$434K+4.5%#376 of 387
3Bangor, ME1710215.6$370K+3.8%#377 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching Maine, ranked for pet businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Augusta-Waterville, ME238716.0$362K+3.5%#506 of 527

Counties

Counties in Maine, ranked for pet businesses by Groundwork market score
MarketScoreListingsPer 10k householdsSpending per listingPopulation growthU.S. rank
1Piscataquis County, ME5556.0$893K+3.5%#859 of 2,200
2Franklin County, ME411713.4$399K+4.6%#1,508 of 2,200
3Somerset County, ME382912.5$414K+2.3%#1,623 of 2,200
4Androscoggin County, ME345511.7$488K+4.8%#1,769 of 2,200
5Aroostook County, ME293612.0$434K−0.7%#1,912 of 2,200
6Oxford County, ME272811.6$473K+4.2%#1,962 of 2,200
7York County, ME2513715.0$450K+4.8%#2,012 of 2,200
8Washington County, ME252316.2$319K+0.8%#2,024 of 2,200
9Cumberland County, ME2322116.7$434K+4.5%#2,060 of 2,200
10Kennebec County, ME228716.0$362K+3.5%#2,084 of 2,200
11Hancock County, ME213212.5$483K+3.0%#2,092 of 2,200
12Lincoln County, ME212716.3$381K+3.8%#2,100 of 2,200
13Penobscot County, ME2110215.6$370K+3.8%#2,102 of 2,200
14Sagadahoc County, ME193018.2$360K+3.4%#2,132 of 2,200
15Knox County, ME172614.1$445K+1.1%#2,147 of 2,200
16Waldo County, ME152614.9$391K+2.6%#2,168 of 2,200

Questions

How many pet businesses are in Maine?

There are 881 pet businesses on map listings in Maine as of September 2026. 94 of them (11%) are chain locations. The listings count vets, groomers, boarding and pet stores. Official counts show 472 businesses with payroll classed as pet care, veterinarians and pet stores in 2023, up 22.6% from 2019. Official counts also show 948 one-person businesses without payroll.

How much do households in Maine spend on pets?

About $371.2M a year, or $622 per household. That is 32% below the U.S. average (an index of 68, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 881 pet businesses on map listings, it comes to $421K per business. It is estimated from the incomes of the 597,159 households in Maine and national spending patterns by income.

How does Maine compare with the U.S. for pet businesses?

Maine has 14.8 pet businesses per 10,000 households, 42% above the U.S. rate of 10.4. Spending per business is $421K, 52% below the U.S. figure of $878K. At the national ratio of pet businesses to household spending, Maine would have about 423, against 881 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,265 households, against one for every 1,852 across the U.S. The official count rose 22.6% from 2019 to 2023, against +11.4% for the U.S.

Which market in Maine has the highest market score for pet businesses?

Among 3 scored metro areas in or partly in Maine, the Lewiston-Auburn metro area scores highest, at 30 (lower middle). The one scored small-town market in or partly in Maine is the Augusta-Waterville area, at 23 (low). Among 16 scored counties in Maine, Piscataquis County scores highest, at 55 (upper middle). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.

What is the Groundwork market score?

The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Maine scores 16 for pet businesses (low), #49 of the 50 states and DC.

How can I see the market around a specific site?

Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Maine. It maps the pet businesses on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.

Pet businesses in other states

All 51 states

Top markets for pet businesses across the U.S. · All business types in Maine

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This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.