Best Life Index › States › Maine › Cities › Portland

Maine city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Portland?

What it costs to live in Portland, and how it compares with other Maine cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

37

10th best value in Maine

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Maine cities.

Overall livability

52

6th overall in Maine

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Portland is home to about 68,063 people. A typical home runs $341,700 and a household earns around $66,100, a price-to-income ratio of 5.2. Among Maine's largest cities, it ranks 10th for value and 6th overall.

Portland at a glance

Median home price

$341,700

12th in ME of 12

Median rent

$1,278/mo

Median household income

$66,100

Home price to income

5.2x

Unemployment

4.0%

2nd in ME of 12

School rating

5/10

5th in ME of 12

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in ME of 12

Walk score

7/100

See your real take-home pay in Maine

Enter your salary and see your paycheck after Maine taxes.

Calculate my take-home pay ›

‹ See all top Maine cities ranked  ยท  Maine state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Maine only. Updated 2026.