Research · updated 2026-08-22 · download the county-level CSV
Maine Well Depth & Drilling Cost Index
Drilling a private water well in Maine means paying by the foot — so the two questions every well owner asks are how deep and how much. We computed both for all 16 counties with enough records to be reliable, from 95,271 official Maine Geological Survey well records.
Statewide, the median well reaches 240 ft, and a complete system — drilling, casing, pump, pressure tank, and hookup — typically runs $18,000–$30,000. But the county spread is large:
Deepest counties to drill in Maine
| County | Median depth | Typical depth range | Complete system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | 340 ft | 240 ft–480 ft | $23,040–$38,400 |
| York | 290 ft | 185 ft–402 ft | $19,800–$33,000 |
| Androscoggin | 288 ft | 180 ft–410 ft | $21,600–$36,000 |
| Cumberland | 277 ft | 162 ft–405 ft | $19,800–$33,000 |
| Franklin | 260 ft | 182 ft–340 ft | $19,200–$32,000 |
Most expensive counties to drill in Maine
| County | Complete system | Drilling & casing only | Median depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford | $23,040–$38,400 | $9,600–$24,960 | 340 ft |
| Androscoggin | $21,600–$36,000 | $9,000–$23,400 | 288 ft |
| Cumberland | $19,800–$33,000 | $8,250–$21,450 | 277 ft |
| York | $19,800–$33,000 | $8,250–$21,450 | 290 ft |
| Franklin | $19,200–$32,000 | $8,000–$20,800 | 260 ft |
Download the full county table (CSV)
How to read this
- Depth is measured; cost is modeled. Depths are the median of recorded drilled depths per county. Cost applies published Maine per-foot drilling rates to that local median depth — a planning estimate, not a quote. Actual bids vary with geology, casing, site access, and water depth.
- Counties below 30 records are excluded so a thin sample can't produce a misleading superlative.
- Records are drilling events from the state database, which include some replacement and abandoned wells; deeper counties reflect real local geology (bedrock, aquifer depth).
Sources & methodology
- Maine well records: Maine Geological Survey (refreshed weekly; see our general methodology).
- Percentiles (p25/median/p75) computed per county; cost from published per-foot rate ranges applied to the local median depth.
The county table is free to use with attribution to Maine Well Data (mainewelldata.com). For a specific county, a custom cut, or the underlying records, email — usually same-day.
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